Local Government Association have launched a new series of case studies on tackling anti-social behaviour
Victims' Survey 2021
If you have been a victim of or reported a crime in the past three years, The Victims' Commissioner want to hear from you. The Victims’ Commissioner will use your valuable feedback to help ensure future victims receive the support and justice outcomes they need.
Results of the survey will feed into a report charting the victim experience of the criminal justice system and victims’ services in 2020.
More information on the survey and the link to the survey itself can be found here:
https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/policies/victims-survey-2021/
"Murdered by a mob" - the tragic story of Bijan Ebrahimi
https://www.channel5.com/show/murdered-by-a-mob/
Every ASB practitioner should watch this documentary urgently. ASB Help are gravely concerned to report that we are working with current vulnerable victims who are suffering similar racially aggravated anti-social behaviour to what Mr Ebrahimi did. These victims are being failed by the agencies who should be protecting them. We hope these agencies will consider the lessons this documentary offers, reflect on their conduct and take urgent steps to protect victims before another avoidable death occurs.
Read the multi-agency learning review following the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi here:
Multi-agency learning review following the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi
A Closer Look At The Updated Anti-Social-Behaviour Guidance
A closer look at the updated Anti-social Behaviour Guidance from our CEO, Rebecca Brown
Read it here: Guidance Article
Dyfed-Powys Police have taken the ASB Pledge
Dyfed-Powys Police have taken the ASB Pledge.
We are delighted to work with Dyfed-Powys Police, who have taken the ASB Pledge, which commits officers and staff to giving victims of antisocial behaviour a voice. It is essential we put victims first.
Dyfed-Powys Police was awarded the ASB Help Pledge after creating a clear process which enables the force and partners to play an active role in resolving entrenched antisocial behaviour.
The pledge helps organisations to create effective policies that make it easier for victims to invoke the ASB Case Review (also known as an ASB case review).
We hope more agencies take the ASB Pledge, so we can ensure victims are put first and Anti-Social Behaviour is resolved as quickly as possible.
Read more about how you can take the ASB Pledge here: http://asbbackup-com.stackstaging.com/community-trigger/the-asb-pledge/
Read more on the ASB Case Review here: http://asbbackup-com.stackstaging.com/community-trigger/
Read the full story here: https://www.southwalesguardian.co.uk/news/19203853.dyfed-powys-police-awarded-commitment-victims-antisocial-behaviour/?ref=twtrec
Updated Victim's Code
New rights for victims of crime introduced
On Thursday 1st April 2021, an updated Victims’ Code came into effect, introducing 12 rights for victims of crime and setting out the services and standards that must be provided to victims by the police and other criminal justice agencies.
The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, more commonly known as the Victims’ Code, is published by the Ministry of Justice and it’s applicable from the moment a crime is reported to the end of a trial in court.
Merseyside Police has welcomed the changes to the Victims’ Code and the force has made it clear that it is committed to ensuring victims of crime are fully supported and kept informed at all stages of a case.
The force has introduced contact cards and information leaflets which will be given to victims when a police officer first attends the report of a crime. The new cards allow officers to provide a reference number and a clear point of contact for enquiries about the case.
The new leaflet contains a lot of useful information. This includes an overview of the next steps following the crime being reported, plus information about the victim’s rights, compensation, the Right to Review scheme, the role of the Witness Care Unit and how support services can be accessed via Victim Care Merseyside.
Victim Care Merseyside is a dedicated support resource for victims of crime, commissioned by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner. The website has a comprehensive directory of services available to victims throughout Merseyside. Victims can easily find specialist support in their local area that can help them cope and recover from the aftereffects of a crime.
Remember, if you report a crime, the police will discuss what support you may require. Be open and honest – the sooner they understand your needs as both a victim and potential witness, the sooner they can put the right support in place or refer you to an organisation that can assist.
You can find more details about your rights under the Victims’ Code and read the full Victims’ Code document, published by the Ministry of Justice by visiting: www.gov.uk or https://www.victimcaremerseyside.org/my-rights/the-victims-code
Victims Law Policy Paper
The victims' commissioner for England and Wales has called for a law to ensure people affected by crime are treated properly as they wait for justice. The paper, published today (24th February 2021) sets out her ambitions for long-awaited Victims’ Law, and calls for criminal justice agencies to be more accountable and for victims to be accorded “participants’ rights".
The full paper, published today (24th February 2021) can be found below:
ASB statutory guidance update
The government has published strengthened guidance for local agencies around anti-social behaviour to ensure that victims have their voices heard.
Changes to the guidance:
- Updated references to legislation and to reflect the new Sentencing Code
- Further clarity on the process of the Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review/ASB Case Review to make sure there is a greater focus on the impact of anti-social behaviour on victims; including that relevant bodies should always consider inviting the victim or, if more appropriate, a representative to a section of the case review meeting and highlighting that local areas can have independent chairs for the review meetings
- Emphasising the requirements for local agencies to publish details of the ASB Case Review procedure to ensure that victims are aware that they can apply and to annually publish specified data.
The link to the full statutory guidance can be found here:
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act: anti-social behaviour
Call for research participants:
I am Amanda Steele, and I am a graduate student in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. I am collaborating with Dr. Craig Smith of Vanderbilt University (USA) on a study examining how people are thinking, feeling, and dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. I am inviting you to take our completely anonymous survey through the link, below.
The entire survey should take about 20 minutes to complete, but could take longer, depending on how much you think about each question. In addition to taking the survey, we encourage you to pass it along to people you know (friends, acquaintances, family members, etc.) who you think might be interested in completing the survey. They, too, can be encouraged to pass the survey on to others. The only requirement for participation is that you are aged 18 years old or older. Through this survey, we hope to learn about how people are contending with the pandemic and the challenges it presents in a way that can help inform mental health professionals and self-help efforts in the future. We are deeply grateful for your time and contribution during this particularly challenging time.
Link to survey:
https://oxfordxpsy.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_79xd4FshTmpE5gN