Anti-social behaviour and disorder
What works for victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour
This study commissioned by the Home Office Anti-social Behaviour Unit and carried out by a research team at Sheffield Hallam University draws on the direct experiences of victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour.
Title: What works for victims and witnesses of ASB
Author: Caroline Hunter, Judy Nixon, Sadie Parr (Centre for Research in Social Inclusion, Sheffield Hallam University) With Adam Greenwood (Adam Greenwood Associates)
Date Published: July 2004
Number of pages: 68
About the study
It aims to:
Identify issues that stop people reporting anti-social behaviour (ASB).
Evaluate the support available to victims and what will make them take a stand against ASB.
Consider if the experiences of being a victim or witness will encourage a person to take part in the wider community initiatives to reduce anti-social behaviour.
Key findings
There is no agency to support witnesses in cases where civil enforcement is taken (e.g. evictions, injunctions), yet there is one for cases where action is taken through the Criminal Justice System.
Fear of retaliation is the main reason victims don't report an incident.
Victims and witnesses commonly believe agencies fail to investigate their complaints fully and take effective action to stop it happening again.
Dedicated witness support schemes are needed to help witnesses overcome their fears of attending court and to offer them information and practical support through out the process.
Confidence needs to be regained in the wider community to take a stand against anti-social behaviour, by ensuring victims and witnesses have access to the support they need.
Recommendations
1. Developing a co-ordinated framework to support witnesses and victims of anti-social behaviour
The type of support available to victims depends on which agency the report is made to and whether the behaviour is a crime (e.g. incidents involving threats, harassment or intimidation). If it is a crime action will be taken by the Criminal Justice System (CJS), which offers a national framework of victim and witness support services. If civil enforcement action is taken using ASB laws, such as an injunction, eviction or noise control powers, then no support agency exists.
Solution…
Greater co-ordination is needed between the two agencies to ensure support is available no matter which agency they approach first. For this CJS and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRP) must work together to develop procedures to ensure that:
a. In all CDRP areas evaluations of existing witness support provisions are carried out and improvements are made to make sure people get the necessary support they need when reporting ASB.
b. The agencies that take the action against ASB develop a strong framework for identifying the need for service and monitoring satisfaction with existing provisions.
2. Investigating complaints and taking action
People have lost confidence in the agencies ability to take effective action, which has stopped many people from reporting incidents.
Solution…
All agencies responsible for receiving reports of anti-social behaviour need to ensure that:
a. It is clear how to report incidents and what action will be taken against each type of offence.
b. People are confident that their complaint will be taken seriously and investigated fully, and that they will be well informed about the process.
c. Victims are provided with ONLY one point of contact, so they are not passed from pillar to post.
d. An assessment of the 'victims or witnesses needs' is made at the start to determine the type of support they need.
3. Keeping witnesses engaged
Victims and witnesses can be reluctant to report anti-social behaviour because of fear of revenge attacks and intimidation. Often the period between reporting the incident and court is a very stressful time.
Solution…
Victims and witnesses need to receive support through out the whole process and updated with any developments in the case.
In order to keep witnesses engaged enforcement agencies should:
a. Put systems in place to keep the victim or witnesses informed, and provide them with a 24hr contact.
b. Involve the person in the case management as much as possible making sure their expectations is met.
c. Ensure that individual complaint details are not revealed to the defendant and action is taken to stop intimidation.
d. Encourage groups of witnesses to act together and work with agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour in the community.
4. Support at court and afterwards
While the Criminal Justice System has a national framework for victim and witness support the Civil Justice System does not. The Criminal Justice System will also provide the witness with separate waiting and seating facilities to the offender and his or her family, which is not available in the Civil Justice System. Most people are afraid of attending court anyway, worried they will not understand legal talk and that they won't be believed, without this added pressure.
Solution…
Witnesses in all CDRP areas must be offered the following types of help and support:
a. The opportunity to visit the court prior to the hearing to familiarise themselves.
b. They are provided with transport arrangements to the court, child care, time off work, food and drink while at the court and secure waiting areas away from the offender and his or her family.
c. Contact is maintained after the court hearing and they are given full details of what they can expect to be done in the future to combat any similar anti-social behaviour problems.
5. Developing community capacity to tackle anti-social behaviour
The study has shown that witnesses that have reported incidents took the experience in different ways. Some found it made them stronger while others found being a witness intimidating and demoralising. The different ways people find this experience depend on the length of time people have put up with anti-social behaviour, the length of time people have lived in the neighbourhood before the incidents started taking place, the support provided and whether the offenders were effectively punished.
Solution…
Providing appropriate support to victims will encourage them to group together and develop a community capacity to tackle unacceptable behaviour.
Last update: Monday, August 18, 2008