Anti-social behaviour

If you are installing CCTV or a Smart Doorbell (e.g. Ring Doorbell) on your property, you need to ensure you are following the regulations and respecting the privacy of your neighbours.

The cameras should only record within the boundaries of your home and garden. If your record images outside of the curtilage of your property, the CCTV laws and regulations will apply to you.

Data protection laws means that if you have installed CCTV that films beyond your property, then those that are being filmed need to be informed of this and are entitled to ask for the footage in which they are identifiable, and to ask for personal information to be deleted.

If you don’t comply with the regulations and someone make a complaint, you could be faced with a formal letter from the Information Commissioners Office, who are the regulatory body for this, as a means to resolve the matter. Or you could pursue a civil complaint.

The District Council and Police do not deal with general complaints in respect of home CCTV systems, and breaches of the regulations. The Police can be contacted but only when your neighbour is breaking the law by being violent or harassing you.

Everyone should be able to enjoy fireworks safely, whether at an organised display or in their back garden. Here you’ll find out the law around using fireworks as well as how to stay safe, and report those using fireworks in a dangerous or threatening way.

Fireworks and the law

What time can fireworks be used?

Fireworks can be used in the UK any time from 7am to 11pm.

Exceptions are:

•Bonfire night: 7am to midnight

•New Year’s Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year: 7am to 1am the following day

Categories of fireworks

•category one: ‘Throwdown fireworks’ including firecrackers, bangers and party poppers

•categories two and three: ‘Adult fireworks’ available in shops

•category four: Professional display fireworks available from specialist suppliers

Who can use fireworks?

According to

The Fireworks Regulations 2004 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/1836/contents/made and

The Pyrotechnic Articles (Safety) Regulations 2015 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1553/regulation/31/made

•anyone over 18 can buy, carry or use category one, two and three fireworks

•anyone over 16 can only buy, carry or use category one fireworks

•anyone over 12 can buy Christmas crackers

•only licensed professionals can buy, carry and use category 4 fireworks

•unless part of an organised event by licensed professionals, fireworks cannot be used on the street or in a public place

•it’s an offence to throw or set off any firework (including sparklers and category 1 fireworks) in or into any highway, street, thoroughfare or public space

What is the impact of firework misuse?

Used irresponsibly, fireworks can cause damage to property and do significant harm to people and animals. Not only is there a danger from fireworks exploding, they can also pose a serious fire risk as well.

This is why members of the public may only use fireworks on private property, such as their back gardens, and only licensed professionals can use them in public places.

For more information on the impact on animals please go to https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/fireworks

For information on the potential impact on those living with Post Traumatic Street Disorder https://www.ptsduk.org/remember-remember-those-with-ptsd/

What you can do

If children are setting off fireworks in your area, our first advice is to ask them politely to stop. It’s possible they’re unaware that they are breaking the law. If you know their parents, perhaps ask them to intervene.

Who to contact should you need to:

Call Police if immediate endangerment to people or vehicles on 999.

Neighbours parking in your space or across your driveway, and people abandoning vehicles on the street can seem like a matter for the police. However, the first point of contact is very often Lincolnshire County Council (for parking issues). Inconsiderate parking is not Anti-Social Behaviour.

Here you can learn more about what constitutes nuisance parking and what to do if it’s affecting you.

Common types of parking issues

Parking disputes

If a parking space is available on a public road, even if it’s directly outside your house, anyone is allowed to park in it. We appreciate this can be frustrating, especially if spaces are hard to come by on your street. Should you wish to pursue a civil complaint you can contact Citizens Advice Bureau or contact a solicitor of your choice.

Designated parking spaces

If someone has parked in your designated parking space without your permission, our first advice is always to try and resolve the issue peacefully yourself. If you can’t find the driver to speak to them, try leaving a polite note on their windscreen.

Failing this, please report the incident through to Lincolnshire County Council via their online report it tool at https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement

If you lease a property with a parking space, please contact whoever is responsible for your building, such as the freeholder, council or managing agent. They should help you resolve the issue.

Someone parking on your driveway

If someone parks their vehicle on your driveway without your permission, this is a civil dispute and not something we can help you with. If it happens repeatedly with the same person / vehicle you might want to seek advice from Citizen's Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ or a solicitor, but we would always recommend having a polite word with the driver first. There may have been a simple misunderstanding.

Someone blocking your driveway

If someone has blocked your driveway so you can’t drive in, we appreciate this can be very frustrating.

If you can find the owner of the vehicle, we’d first recommend asking them politely to move it. If you can’t find them, try leaving a note on their windscreen. After all, they may not realise they have caused a problem.

If a person has blocked your driveway and is preventing you from getting your own vehicle out, this could be deemed as antisocial behaviour. In this case, Lincolnshire Police may be able to help. Please note that a vehicle that slightly overhangs the driveway may not be classed as an obstruction.

Illegal parking

If the vehicle is parked in the following way you may contact the Police to report it:

•on zig zag lines

•dangerously

•in a way that would prevent emergency vehicles from accessing

If a vehicle is parked under the following circumstances then please report it to Lincolnshire County Council via https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement:

•opposite or within ten metres of a junction

•over a dropped kerb

•on a pedestrian crossing (including the area marked by the zig-zag lines)

•in spaces reserved for Blue Badge holders, residents or motorbikes (unless entitled to do so)

•in marked taxi bays, cycle lanes or red lines

•near a school entrance, bus or tram stop

•anywhere that would prevent access for Emergency Services

Abandoned vehicles

An abandoned vehicle is one which has not been moved or attended to for a long time. There may be visible damage to suggest a crash or signs the vehicle has been stolen, such as:

•significantly damaged

•run-down or un-roadworthy including being rusted

•missing or suspicious number plates

•broken window, flat tyres

•has a lot of rubbish inside it

•broken or loose ignition

•broken steering column

Abandoned vehicles can cause a nuisance by obstructing roads, traffic and pedestrians. The sight of a damaged or slowly rusting car can also be an eyesore in your community, so it’s understandable you might want it to be removed.

What you can do about abandoned vehicles

If you know the vehicle owner, our first advice would be to ask them politely to move it. After all, they may not be aware they’re causing a problem.

However, do not take the law into your own hands by intervening, such as making physical threats or attempting to move the vehicle yourself. You may make the situation worse and even risk committing an offence yourself. You can check if a vehicle has valid insurance/tax/MOT, as these could be indicators that a vehicle is abandoned, this can be done at https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/vehicle-tax-mot-insurance

If you find an abandoned vehicle that doesn’t appear to be stolen, please click here Abandoned vehicles to report the vehicle as abandoned.

If you find an abandoned vehicle that you believe could be stolen, please Contact Lincolnshire police on 101 or use the online reporting facility Nuisance parking and abandoned vehicles | Lincolnshire Police

If an animal has been or is being poorly treated this needs to be reported to the RSPCA or police on 101: https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty

Common types of nuisance animal

Aggressive or out of control animals

If you come across an animal, more commonly a dog, which appears not to be under the proper control of the owner, this can be reported to us to investigate.

Animals used for illegal activities

Some animals are bred and trained to take part in illegal activities such as dog fights, hare coursing and badger baiting. Not only can this harm the animal in question, it often leads to other animals being persecuted, abused, injured and killed for sport. These activities should be reported to the RSPCA or the Police on 101: https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty

What you can do

Aggressive animals

If you’ve witness an aggressive or dangerously out of control animal, or an owner using an animal to intimidate people, please report this to Lincolnshire Police.

Likewise, if you know someone who is using animals in illegal activities such as dog fighting, please report this to Lincolnshire Police.

Stray or abandoned animals

To report an injured stray or abandoned animal please contact your local veterinary surgery or the RSPCA either on 0300 12234 999 or via the RSPCA website https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty

If you find a stray dog that isn’t injured, the finder must return the dog to the owner (if known), or contact us https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/straydogs

Nuisance noise is any loud or persistent noise that causes you ongoing concern or affects your quality of life.

For more information regarding nuisance noise and to report, please visit our noise page.

Unsolicited phone calls and knocks at your door can be annoying, but persistent or malicious calls and visits can be unpleasant and even intimidating. Find out below the common types of caller and what you can do about them.

Common types of calls and visits

Cold calls

Cold calls are unwanted phone calls by companies or people trying to sell you something. It’s not illegal, but companies are required to get your consent before they can market their goods and services to you by phone or email. If they don’t have it, they shouldn’t be doing it.

Indecent, threatening or offensive phone calls or social media

Nuisance phone calls can involve the caller remaining silent or deliberately calling when they know you’re likely to be asleep. It’s rare for this kind of call to happen again and again, but if it does you can take steps to prevent it (see below).

Malicious calls are deliberately targeted at an individual and can involve threats and blackmail. Making a malicious or obscene call is a criminal offence.

Phishing scams

Fraudsters also use phone calls to try and manipulate people into giving them valuable personal information. This is called ‘phishing’. They either sell this information or use it themselves to commit fraud such as identity theft. This too is a criminal offence.

Door-to-door

Unwanted knocks at the door from people trying to sell you products can be a nuisance, especially if they happen regularly.

Sometimes these visitors’ intentions are fraudulent, whether it’s to sell over priced goods or services or simply gather information about you or the property. In some cases, fraudsters may even pretend to be from genuine companies and use an excuse as a way to gain access to your house.  They may pretend to be from a utility company, a local council or even a police force.

What is the impact?

Unwanted calls and visits from strangers can be stressful and a nuisance, but too many of either and you can start to feel targeted in your own home or afraid of the phone ringing. It needn’t be this way. Follow the steps below to take control of who can contact you, and how they can do it.

What you can do

On most modern phones you can block certain numbers from calling or texting you. Check your phone’s instruction guide or call your service provider for help.

To help prevent nuisance and malicious calls, you can register with the Telephone Preference Service. You could also contact your phone service provider, such as BT or Virgin Media. They should be able to suggest more ways to screen and block incoming calls.  You can also buy a scam call filter to block unwanted calls and you may be able to receive a unit from your local police or County Council if you feel you need protection from scams.  You can find out more about call blockers at Friends Against Scams - Call blocker

If you have been threatened or received an indecent phone call, please report antisocial behaviour to Lincolnshire Police.

Most door-to-door callers are simply trying to sell you something. If you don’t like the way they speak to you or you feel they’re calling too often, simply ask them for their company’s details and make a complaint.

It may also be worth leaving a sign or sticker near your doorbell or letterbox saying ‘no cold callers, thank you’. This will be enough to deter most sensible salespeople. Ask your neighbours to join you in displaying a door sticker too.

Avoiding fraudsters

Anyone who calls at your door should have some form of identification. You are well within your rights to ask for this and make a note of their details.

Never give out banking or personal details to anyone at the door. If you can’t be certain if a visitor is genuinely who they say they are, ask them to come back at a later date. This gives you time to verify their identity and perhaps also arrange for a relative or friend to be there.  Always make your own enquiries, don’t simply trust the contact details they provide.

Remember, it’s ok to tell visitors you’re not interested or ask them to leave if you aren’t comfortable. Legitimate visitors will understand.

Finally, if you suspect fraud, please report it to Report fraud, bribery or corruption | Lincolnshire Police or Action Fraud Action Fraud and contact Citizens Advice for more information Get help with scams - Citizens Advice. The methods fraudsters use can be extremely clever - there’s no shame in being a victim of fraud.

Fly-tipping and littering covers a range of items that people might discard in a public place, from large appliances like fridges to drugs-related paraphernalia like needles and syringes. Find out more below, including what you can do to help clean up your community.

Common types of littering

General littering

General littering includes the dumping of household rubbish, either in plastic bags or as individual items. It also includes dog fouling in public places.

Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of large items or waste on public roads, land or into rivers. This could include large household appliances like washing machines or discarded materials from construction sites for more information and to report, visit our fly tipping page https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/community-and-neighbourhood/your-community-and-living/fly-tipping

A Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership has been established to help protect Lincolnshire’s environment by working together to effectively tackle waste related crimes. For further information on the Partnership and to view their Annual Report, please visit Lincolnshire Environmental Crime Partnership (lincolnshire-pcc.gov.uk)

Hazardous items

Equipment used for taking drugs, discarded drugs and items used during sex, such as condoms, represent a serious health risk to the general public. Your local council will want to remove these and make the area safe.

What is the impact?

Fly-tipping and littering can be a health hazard, not to mention an eyesore. It can cause unpleasant smells, attract pests and create a dangerous environment for children, pets and wildlife in particular.

We’ve found that if the problem is not dealt with quickly, it can lead to an increase in fly-tipping in the area, making the unpleasant and unsafe area even larger and more obvious.

What you can do

If you’ve witnessed littering or people leaving a mess in public, please don’t attempt to remove the rubbish yourself in case there are hidden sharp or dangerous items. Contact us Fly-tipping | South Kesteven District Council

If you’ve witnessed fly-tipping or people discarding drug-related items, please photograph the discarded items if possible, but please tell us about this.

We will not intervene in neighbour disputes and or family disagreements, which by their nature are based on people's intolerance and or prejudice associated with intergenerational, individual and lifestyle differences.

The classic neighbour/family type disputes between individuals do not amount to criminality or anti-social behaviour and are regarded as a private matter between the individuals concerned.

In the absence of parties agreeing to participate with mediation, parties will be advised to seek closure to their situation, through privately accessed civil remedy.

Common types of neighbour disputes

The most common disputes relate to:

• noise, such as shouting, loud music and barking dogs

• parking

• property boundaries

• overgrowing trees and hedges

• children playing in the street

It’s important to note that most of these are civil matters, do not amount to Anti-Social Behaviour and are not matters for the police or council. However, you should certainly contact Lincolnshire Police if a neighbour or someone in your community is:

•violent, abusive or threatening

•harassing you

•breaching the peace

•committing a crime (or you suspect they might be)

If any of the above are the case, please report a crime to Lincolnshire Police.

What is the impact?

Disagreements between neighbours, however small, can fester over time and do lasting damage to your relationships in the long term. That’s why we would always encourage you to raise your concerns with one another and find amicable solutions as early as possible.

What you can do

Our first advice is always to talk to your neighbour if possible and try to resolve the issue peacefully. If you have a difference of opinion, see if you can find a compromise that works for both of you, such as no loud music after 11pm.

If you regularly hear your neighbours shouting and arguing or you feel that the argument you are hearing seems particularly violent, consider whether this could be a sign of domestic abuse.

If you are concerned for anyone’s safety within the household, then contact Lincolnshire Police on 999 in an

emergency or 101. Alternatively, call the National Domestic Violence Helpline for free on 0808 2000 247

More advice on resolving neighbour disputes https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes

If talking hasn’t worked

If you live in rented property or social housing, your landlord or housing association may be able to help you.

If the problem involves noise, such as a loud party or dogs barking, please click here https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/environmental-health/noise-and-pollution/noise

For disagreements over boundary walls, fences, trees or hedges, contact Citizens Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ for free information and support. In some cases you may also want to contact a solicitor.

On the subject of neighbours’ trees and hedges, you can cut any branches or roots that cross over the boundary onto your property. However, these cuttings still belong to your neighbour, so you should speak to them before disposing of them.

If you feel targeted or intimidated

If the problems have escalated or you’ve been threatened, verbally abused, or personally targeted please report the issue to Lincolnshire Police or your local council.

We would rather hear from you, and offer advice than find out that you were suffering in silence.

Nuisance behaviour by groups of people, such as drinking alcohol in the street, taking drugs in public places, or trespassing on private property may not be against the law. However, this activity can lead to criminal behaviour and pose a risk to the wider community. Here you can find out the most common types of nuisance behaviour and what you can do about it.

Common types of nuisance behaviour

Street drinking

It is not ordinarily a criminal offence to drink alcohol in the street but public spaces protection orders may be in place in certain areas to restrict the consumption of alcohol associated with anti-social behaviour. Drinking in these areas could result in a fine Public Spaces Protection Orders | South Kesteven District Council

Trespassing

Trespassing is when someone is on private property or travels across it without the property owner’s permission. This includes both private land and buildings.

It can be worrying to find someone trespassing on your property, and you might be tempted to immediately call the police. However, unless the trespasser is causing a persistent nuisance or you believe they’ve caused, or plan to cause, damage or harm, it is usually a civil matter and you may need to seek the advice of a solicitor. 

However, certain forms of trespassing, generally those which involve squatters, raves and hunt saboteurs are covered by criminal law. There are offences under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sections 61 and 62 of trespassing on land and trespassing with vehicles.

What is the impact?

People gathering together in public is not an offence. However, if drink or drugs are involved this can sometimes lead to disruptive noise. This can then escalate into aggressive, violent or lewd behaviour, such as intimidation or verbal abuse of passers-by, fighting or urinating in public. All of which are offences.

If people are drinking or taking drugs they may leave litter behind, including hazardous materials such as needles, syringes, swabs, wraps and gas canisters. This is a particular concern as it can pose a health risk to other members of the public, pets and wildlife.

What you can do

If you know the people involved, or they seem approachable, our first advice would be to talk to them peacefully. After all, they may not be aware they’re causing a problem. If they are trespassing on your property you have the right to ask them to leave.

However, do not take the law into your own hands by intervening, such as making physical threats or attempting to confiscate items. You may make the situation worse and even risk committing an offence yourself.

If talking hasn’t worked, or you would prefer not to talk to those involved, there are a couple of ways to get help and support.

•Report street drinking or public drug use that is causing a nuisance

•Report trespassers on your property that have threatened you or caused criminal damage link to online crime report or 101

Where a smell, from a private address is very unpleasant or persistent and has a serious or detrimental impact on residents the Council may be able to take action to deal with the problem.

What is an Odour?

Odour is the smell that we are able to detect from substances, usually carried by air into our nose. The degree to which people are affected will depend on the sensitivity of their sense of smell and their tolerance of the odour in question. Odours arise from a wide range of sources e.g. accumulations of waste, decomposing animals, bonfires, cooking, etc. The main concern with odour is its ability to cause a response in individuals that is considered to be objectionable or offensive.

What is involved in an Odour Complaint Investigation?

If you make a complaint to the Council, Police or Housing Association about a smell, to assist with the investigation, you may be asked to keep a record of what you smell, for how long and when the odour affects you. The Council / Housing Association will try to find the cause and examine what, if anything, can be done.

Due to society changes, it is recognised that the use of recreational and illicit substances is extensive. The local authority and partners will not be able to address every complaint made to them. They will only be able to consider an investigation if there is evidence to support that the impact of the odour is having a significant and detrimental impact on the community, or individual, or there is a wider anti-social behaviour as a result of the use of substances.

Any report will need to meet the standard required to show it is something which is so offensive and so prolonged that it significantly interferes with the enjoyment of an affected property, or is having a significant and detrimental effect on a person or household.

 Judgement of whether or not an odour constitutes a nuisance can take time, especially if the occurrence of the odour is unpredictable and only apparent for short periods of time.

The following relevant factors are taken into consideration during an investigation:

• Offensiveness of the odour
• Intensity of the odour
• Duration of exposure to the odour
• Frequency of the odour exposure
• Tolerance and expectation of the exposed subjects

If a resident makes a complaint, the Council / Housing Association will endeavour to ensure the complainants’ details remain confidential, but this cannot always be guaranteed. The council may not always be able to cease the behaviour.

Any person making a complaint of a noxious odour, will be expected to provide written evidence, as well as supporting investigations. This may also include providing written statements, and if action progresses to court, then to be prepared to be a witness to the impact of the odour.

For further information or to make a report please contact your local district council Report anti-social behaviour | South Kesteven District Council

Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution – though this can be the most noticeable problem. Find out below about the different kinds of vehicle nuisance, their long-term effect on a neighbourhood and what you can do about it.

Common types of vehicle nuisance

Street racing

Street racing is the illegal racing of any kind of vehicle on a public road.

Street racing is extremely dangerous as it can involve high speeds, weaving through traffic and ignoring traffic signals like red lights. This obviously puts other road users and members of the public in an extremely dangerous position.

The only time street racing is permitted is when the organiser has obtained prior permission from the police as part of an organised event.

Street cruising

Street cruising is when a group of vehicle owners form a convoy and drive up and down a street or around a neighbourhood – usually to show off their cars or bikes. They’ll often drive slowly and may even take up both sides of the road. This can hold up traffic behind and make things really difficult for other road users.

Riding unlicensed powered vehicles

It’s against the law in the UK to ride hover boards, minibikes (or ‘mini moto’s’), motorised scooters such as GoPeds on both public roads and pavements. The same applies to ‘trail’ bikes, three-wheeled bikes and quads unless they are displaying valid number plates.

These kind of vehicles may only be used on private roads or land with the road or land-owner’s permission.

Misusing vehicles off-road

While quad bikes, three-wheeled bikes, trail bikes and some other two-wheeled vehicles are built for off-road use, it is against the law to ride them in public parks or on publicly-owned land without permission from the local authority.

As with unlicensed powered vehicles, these can only be used on private roads or land with the road or land-owner’s permission.

Performing stunts and tricks

Performing stunts and tricks such as doughnuts and wheelies, whether on public roads or in car parks, can be dangerous to both the driver or rider and bystanders. It can also cause noise nuisance, especially if taking place at night in residential areas.

For this reason, this kind of behaviour is not permitted unless as part of an organised event with prior permission from the local authority.

What is the impact?

Some people regard this kind of vehicle use as harmless fun. However, regular antisocial vehicle use can have a wider impact on a neighbourhood or community than simply nuisance noise.

The effect of dangerous or reckless use of a vehicle can lead to criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.

Drivers and riders also risk injuring themselves, other road users, cyclists and pedestrians as they do not have full control of their vehicle and their full attention on their surroundings.

Driving or riding in this way can also be used as a form of intimidation, either to other road users or the community. Loud noise from engines and music, and deliberately creating large amounts of exhaust or tyre smoke can also be seen as an aggressive act.

What you can do

If you know the people involved, or they seem approachable, our first advice would be to talk to them calmly or leave them a polite note. You might find it hard to believe, but they may not be aware they’re causing a problem.

However, don’t take the law into your own hands by intervening, such as turning off their music, making physical threats or attempting to confiscate items. You may make the situation worse and even risk committing an offence yourself.

If talking hasn’t worked, or you would prefer not to talk to them, then please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review (previously known as the Community Trigger) allows victims of persistent anti-social behaviour (ASB) to request a formal review of their case, where the local threshold is met.

The threshold in Lincolnshire:

•             The victim has reported three separate, but related incidents (Qualifying Complaints, as detailed below) to either the district council, police, or registered housing provider within the preceding 6-months to the application and the ASB persists.

OR 

•             A senior manager (district council Community Safety Manager/Police Inspector) within the authority decides that an ASB Case Review is necessary to safeguard a vulnerable victim of ASB.

An incident must be a ‘Qualifying Complaint’.  A Qualifying Complaint is an incident that has been reported to either the district council, police, or registered provider of housing within 30 days of it taking place. A single incident which is reported to more than one agency only constitutes as one Qualifying Complaint.

When considering an ASB Case Review request, agencies must also have due regard for:

• the persistence of the anti-social behaviour
• the harm or potential harm caused by the anti-social behaviour
• the adequacy of response to the anti-social behaviour

The ASB Case Review brings agencies (such as the police, district council and registered housing provider) together to take a joined up, problem solving approach to try to find a solution to the ongoing ASB.

The ASB Case Review does not replace an agency's own complaints procedure, which you should use if you are unhappy about the service received from an individual officer or agency.  The ASB Case Review will not address concerns about the service provided by the agencies involved in the case.

Who can use the ASB Case Review?

A victim of ASB, or another person acting on behalf of the victim (with their consent), such as a carer or family member, Member of Parliament, local councillor or other professional.  The victim may be an individual, a business or a community group.

How do I request an ASB Case Review?

A victim, or someone acting on their behalf, can request an ASB Case Review by completing an ASB Case Review Request form, this can be completed using any of the following methods:

Click HERE to download the form, returnable by post or email.

Neighbourhoods Team
South Kesteven District Council
The Picture House
St. Catherine’s Road
Grantham NG31 6TT

Email: Neighbourhoods@southkesteven.gov.uk

•             By telephone 01476 406080

•             In writing to the district council

Neighbourhoods Team
South Kesteven District Council
The Picture House
St. Catherine’s Road
Grantham NG31 6TT

It is recommended that you read the section on ‘How will we use your information?’ prior to submitting an ASB Case Review application.

What can I expect?

Once you have made a request for an ASB Case Review it will be assigned to a specific point of contact (SPOC) who has had no direct involvement in the case to coordinate the request. The SPOC will collate the necessary information from the 'relevant bodies' (which includes Lincolnshire police, registered housing providers, and relevant district council departments) to establish whether the threshold has been met. 

Where the threshold is not met you will be contacted and informed of the reasons why. If the threshold is met the SPOC will inform you that the ASB Case Review request has been accepted and provide details on the next steps. You will also be given the opportunity to attend the initial part of the review or provide a written statement to share the impact the ASB has had on you. 

A review of the case will be carried out to identify how partners responded to the incidents reported, and any further actions that can be taken to try to resolve the issues.  Additional agencies not involved in the case might be invited to the meeting, and the meeting will be chaired by someone independent from the case to ensure impartiality. After the review you will be informed of the outcome.

Information on the number of ASB Case Reviews in Lincolnshire

Each year we publish information on the number of ASB Case Review requests received by district councils across Lincolnshire.  The following information is for the 12-month period from 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024:

• The number of applications for an ASB Case Review received: 19
• The number of times the threshold for a review was not met: 11
• The number of ASB Case Review panels carried out: 6
• The number of ASB Case Reviews that resulted in recommendations being made: 2

1 review panel was arranged but the applicant withdrew from the process before it was held so it did not take place, and is not included in the results. 

1 review panel will take place during Q1 24/25 so has not been included in the results. 

A copy of the ASB Case Review Policy and Procedures for Lincolnshire is available upon request.  The policy has been developed with the guidance of ASB Help (a national charity providing advice and support to victims of ASB), through their PLEDGE scheme.  This seeks to encourage all agencies involved in the ASB Case Review process to embed best practice into their policy and procedures.

How will we use your information?

To process your application, we will need to share the information you provide with the ‘relevant bodies’ which includes Lincolnshire police, registered housing providers, and relevant district council departments. These bodies will also share information about your application to help determine whether it meets the threshold for review. If an application proceeds to a case review under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014. The relevant bodies will share relevant, necessary, and proportionate information to enable them to review the incidents you have reported and the action that has been taken, or could be taken, to resolve the situation.

In some cases, it may be necessary to share information with other partners that the relevant bodies deem appropriate to be involved in the review process. This includes the Youth Offending Service, where the ASB involves someone who is under 18 years old.

To process your personal data, we will rely upon Article 6(c) of the General Data Protection Regulations, in that it is ‘necessary to comply with a legal obligation’. This is because the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 places a legal obligation on the relevant bodies to undertake an ASB Case Review and share relevant information when a valid ASB Case Review request is received.

Where it is necessary to process any of your personal data which falls within a special category*, we will rely upon Article 9, 2(g) of the General Data Protection Regulations, in that it is the substantial public interest, based on the lawful requirement to conduct an ASB Case Review, and is proportionate for that purpose. We will also meet the substantial public interest condition at Schedule 1 Part 2, (6) of the Data Protection Act 2018, in that the processing is necessary for a statutory purpose.

*Special categories of personal data include personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, data concerning health or a person’s sex life or their sexual orientation.