What is an ASB Case Review?
The ASB Case Review gives victims and communities the right to request action on problems with anti-social behaviour (ASB) they have reported in the past. This can be requested by anyone who has reported ASB but feels no appropriate action has been taken.
The ASB Case Review is aimed at putting victims first, identifying solutions to ongoing issues and to hold agencies responsible for managing anti-social behaviour to account.
Agencies including councils, the police, local health teams and registered providers of social housing who receive an ASB Case Review request will then need to determine if the request meets the threshold for an ASB Case Review.
Who can request an ASB Case Review and when?
You can request an ASB Case Review if:
- you have reported three separate incidents relating to the same problem in the past six months to the council, police or your landlord; or
- you have reported one incident or crime motivated by hate (due to race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity) in the past six months and no action has been taken.
Anyone can request a review on behalf of the victim – for example a family member, friend, carer, councillor, Member of Parliament (MP) or other professional person.
It doesn't matter who you originally reported the ASB to (the council, the police or your landlord) – please use the ASB Case Review request form:
What happens after you request an ASB Case Review?
When you request an ASB Case Review, we will contact you to say we have received it and let you know what will happen next.
Your completed form will be sent to Sandwell Council's Community Safety and Anti-Social Behaviour Manager.
A member of the ASB team will contact you, to discuss the request in more detail.
What is not suitable for the ASB Case Review?
The process allows for a review of an ASB case, bringing a number of agencies together to look at whether there is anything further than can be done in that case.
It aims to find solutions that may not have been considered before. Its primary aim is not to find fault with an organisation’s response, rather to see whether other agencies can help support the matter or see whether there are other things that can be done.
Organisations will also have a complaints process that is designed to deal with concerns you might have about the service you have received. This process is more appropriate where you feel you have been let down by an organisation and/or you feel they have done something wrong. The ASB Case Review is not intended to be an alternative method of dealing with these issues.
Examples of concerns that are appropriate for the complaints procedure include:
- where staff have been rude to you
- where staff have promised things, such as telephone calls or meetings, and have not delivered on these
- where you feel that the organisation have breached their policy and/or procedure
If you are not satisfied with the service you have received in ways similar to those listed above, then you should follow the independent complaints process for the organisation that you wish to complain about.
How to make a complaint to Sandwell Council
If your complaint relates to another organisation then details of their complaints process will be on their own website. Please do not use the council complaints policy to complain about another organisation.
Independent information about the ASB Case Review
Feedback on the use of the ASB Case Review
During 2022, a total of 58 ASB Case Review requests were received. Of those, 47 did not meet the threshold, while two proceeded to a full case review. Five were withdrawn, cancelled or listed for no further action, and four decisions (on recent applications) were pending at the end of the year.
We received significantly more ASB Case Review requests in 2022 than we did in 2021. During 2022, the Anti-Social Behaviour Team continued its extensive work with ASB Help (an independent victims charity). We delivered staff training to housing associations and our contact centre staff. We also acted as an independent chair or panel member for case reviews held by several other responsible authorities.