Community Trigger

Our community trigger process is currently under review, in connection with the January 2021 revised version of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: Anti-social behaviour powers.

What is the Community Trigger?

The Anti-social Behaviour (ASB), Crime and Policing Act 2014 give victims the power to ensure that action is taken to deal with persistent anti-social behaviour. The action begins with a request for a review of their case.

It helps us and you by making sure that no-one suffering the harmful effects of anti-social behaviour and hate crime falls through the net. It will also ensure that all that can be done is being done.

Who can use the Community Trigger?

Anyone can use the Community Trigger if their concern is about anti-social behaviour or a hate incident / crime and meets either of the criteria below:

• If an individual has complained to us, the police or to a social landlord about three separate incidents in the last six months and the individual considers that there has been no action taken.
• If three individuals or groups in the local community have complained separately to us, the police or to a social landlord in the last six months about similar incidents of anti-social behaviour and they consider no action has been taken.

What happens when a report is made to us?

When a victim of ASB makes an application to use the Community Trigger, the Senior Community Safety Officer within the Community Safety Team will arrange a professionals meeting including all agencies involved in the case. During this meeting, the professionals will use the SARA Police problem-solving model to create an action plan. The action plan will then be presented and discussed in our next Joint Action Group (JAG) meeting.

What decisions can the ODG make?

You will be notified of the outcome within five working days of the JAG meeting.

• JAG may decide that the Community Trigger criteria have not been met.
• JAG can agree that the criteria have been met but at present there is no further action that can be taken.
• JAG agrees that the Community Trigger has been met and will review the action plan.

The review will have a problem-solving focus and a single point of contact will be agreed to lead on the case. A letter will be sent to you advising of the proposed actions. The trigger will remain on the JAG agenda for discussion until a time it can be closed.

How to Appeal

If you are not satisfied with the decision made on your case, you can ask for a Community Trigger Appeals/Review Panel. The panel consists of two Heads of Service and the Chief Inspector of the Police. The Police Crime Commissioner will also be notified of the appeal application. An appeal will only be considered on the following grounds:

• The Community Trigger procedure was not correctly followed.
• Not all of the evidence submitted was considered.
• The decision taken was unreasonable in view of the evidence presented.

You must ask for the Appeals/Reviews within 21 days of the decision letter being sent to you.