Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (BASBU)

Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (BASBU) is a part of Birmingham Community Safety Partnership. The team coordinate and deliver activity across the city aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour. Facing up to anti-social behaviour can be difficult but there are a number of ways we can help you. Below is an example of some of the support services available.

There are two main legal processes, or court orders, for dealing with people who behave anti-socially. Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and Injunctions.

Anti-social Behaviour Orders are issued by the Courts and can be served on anybody over the age of ten. They are designed to stop people from behaving in a way that causes distress to others. Breaking the terms of an ASBO can lead to a prison sentence.
Injunctions are civil orders issued by the court and provide a specific instruction to an individual to change their actions or behaviour. For example, an injunction might forbid an individual from accessing a neighbour’s property. In serious cases, if an injunction is broken then the offender can be arrested.

Before an ASBO or injunction can be issued, the court will need to consider the evidence against the offender/s. The BABSU team can offer information and advice on the best way to gather evidence to support anti-social behaviour cases.

In addition to ASBOs and injunctions, there are a range of other measures and actions which can be taken to put a stop to anti-social behaviour. They get to the root of the problem and identify ways in which we can help individuals to change their behaviour through supported projects and interventions.

Contact the Birmingham Anti-Social Behaviour helpline number on 0121 303 1111 for more information.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour in Hostels

The Partnership has developed a hostel’s toolkit which is to be used by practitioners. The purpose of this toolkit is to outline the interventions available to tackle crime and disorder issues associated with the privately owned, low cost hotel and hostel accommodation, and the adverse impact on local neighbourhoods where this type of accommodation is located.

The toolkit contains details of partnership agencies working to improve the management of low cost hotel and hostel accommodation, and recommends procedures for practitioners in order to address any ASB issues raised.

Birmingham Community Safety Partnership is responsible for reviewing and updating this document. For further information, contact David Clifton, Senior Project Officer who is available on 0121 464 6560 or via email at dave.clifton@birmingham.gov.uk

Download the toolkit here: Hostels Toolkit

Specialist Anti-Social Behaviour support services

Whilst there are a number of actions which can be taken to help put a stop to anti-social behaviour, supporting the victim is one of our key concerns. We offer two services which provide specific support to those who are suffering the effects of anti-social behaviour.

Mediation −offers all Birmingham residents the opportunity to deal with conflict themselves through the facilitation of an independent, impartial third party. This service has been running since 1996 and is fully funded and supported by the City Council. Currently, 94% of all referred cases have had a positive outcome.

The Witness Support Project − is an independent, free and confidential service where trained support workers provide information and advice to victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour. Referrals can be made by Birmingham City Council’s Housing and Constituencies Directorate or through BASBU. Telephone: 0121 236 3959 or e-mail: birminghamASB@victimsupport.org.uk

There are further actions which can be taken against ASB perpetrators.

Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) and Parenting Contracts are agreed with people who have carried out anti-social behaviour and detail the kind of behaviour expected of them in the future. They aren’t legal contracts, but can help to stop bad behaviour without the need for involving the courts. They can also be used to support any further legal action.

Community Agreements are settlements reached between the residents of a community to resolve disputes. The details are put in writing and each household or individual has a copy. The agreement, which is aimed at tackling the issues that affect people’s quality of life, is based on the wishes of the majority and clearly states how those involved would like to be treated within their community.

Additional support services include:

The Step Project − an intensive support project that aims to help families, single people and couples to address their anti-social behaviour. The BASBU team provide support to individuals and will bring other agencies on board to help bring about positive changes in behaviour to reduce an individual’s risk of eviction and homelessness.

Changing Behaviour − The BABSU team work with individuals and their project worker to draw up a contract which sets out their expected behaviour and the support available.

The Building Lives Intensive Intervention Project (BLIIP) − focuses on young people who are identified as being at risk of entering urban street gangs. The project works with young people aged 10-19 in ‘outreach’ settings and provides a mix of one-to-one support and group activities.

The project provides support to up to 50 young people per year. At the heart of the project is a personal development programme that aims to support young people in their education and learning. For more information telephone 0121 515 4992.

Safeguarding of Adults (Over the age of 18)

The Adults and Communities Directorate Safeguarding Adults and Birmingham Anti Social Behaviour Unit have developed the ASB Victim Vulnerability Matrix to assist staff receiving initial ASB incident referrals to ensure that both the seriousness of the incident and the vulnerability of the victim are taken into account when making a decision about the relative priority of the case. The matrix has been developed to reflect current local authority practice and procedure whereby ASB cases are sub divided into 3 priority levels:

Level A − High Priority − the victim is visited within 1 working day.
Level B − Medium Priority − the victim is visited within 5 working days.
Level C − Low Priority − the victim is visited within 10 working days.

The matrix is not intended to provide a definitive needs assessment, but rather an intuitive initial guide as to whether a victim may also have vulnerabilities and needs that might disproportionately and negatively affect their perceptions of the ASB they are suffering. The matrix therefore assumes that, having initiated a response, there will be further assessment undertaken with the victim to substantiate their needs and organise whatever support is necessary.

The matrix is based on the principle that it is better to be over cautious when responding initially to vulnerability in victims. As indicated above, the matrix provides a first response guide only and, further investigation may reveal that the risk or need was not as significant as first thought.

To that end, the matrix also assumes that there a certain key risks and vulnerabilities identified in the matrix as “triggers”. If, in completing the assessment, it appears that one or more triggers are present, the case is automatically categorised as a top priority, Category A investigation, irrespective of what other concerns, risks and vulnerabilities may also exist.