CIH launch new anti-social behaviour tool

Developed by CIH and a range of partners, the new tool – The Community Harm Statement – will enable landlords to highlight the harmful impact of ASB on a community, and not just the individual, when taking legal action and ensure evidence is presented to the court in a consistent manner. It gives a stronger voice to communities by helping ensure that the damage inflicted by ASB is properly voiced and listened to when landlords take legal action. It can also be used to support non-judicial actions, casework and partnership working.

Grainia Long, Chief Executive of CIH, said: “The Community Harm Statement is an industry leading document that will be useful for social landlords to adopt as part of their toolkit for tackling ASB.  It has been designed to help social landlords when they take legal action on ASB to present evidence to the court in a consistent manner, and in a way that properly captures the impact not only on individuals but also the wider community. As such it is an opportunity to give communities a stronger voice in the judicial process.

“Anti social behaviour has such a detrimental affect on communities, the impact of last summer’s riots are testament to that, and until now the voice of the community hasn’t been put forward in the courts. We know the government is soon to announce new measures to deal with anti social behaviour and this document is the first of its kind to focus on communities and not just individuals.”

Helen Tucker concluded, “We’d like to thank the CIH for giving us the opportunity to contribute towards the development of this ASB tool. As a firm we’re committed to achieving social justice through the work we do with clients and partner organisations – this ASB tool will contribute to helping to secure justice for local communities who are suffering due to anti-social behaviour.”

To download a copy of the guidance notes for social landlords click here.

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