Community Safety

Anti-Social Behaviour

Since the introduction of the Anti Social Behaviour (ASB) Act 2003, the Safer Somerset Community Partnership has made great progress in tackling ASB at a local and strategic level.

Anti-Social Behaviour is a term that is applied to a wide range of activity. The definition that we use is the one in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, "anti-social behaviour is any activity that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household".

Mendip District Council, through its membership of the Safer Somerset Partnership, is committed to tackle anti-social behaviour. Together with other partners in the East of Somerset, we have signed up to a pledge which sets out what we will do to address anti social behaviour.

To report Anti-Social Behaviour please call Mendip District Council customer services number 0300 303 8588 where a report will be passed on to the Community Safety Officer to investigate. Alternatively use the online form: Report Other Environmental or Anti-Social Behaviour Concerns

This method should only be used where the ASB incident:

• is NOT an emergency
• should NOT require Police attention
• should NOT require an immediate response
• should NOT be in progress

This is an intelligence gathering system, all reports are entered onto the ASB database to help agencies tackle ASB together. Examples of things you could report are:

• Noise nuisance
• Ongoing low-level neighbourhood issues
• Joyriding
• Racial Abuse
• Graffiti

For all other reports of anti-social behaviour, please contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary by telephoning 101, or in an emergency 999. If you are a registered social landlord tenant, you may wish to contact your housing provider to discuss the matter with them.

Police and Crime Commissioner

A role introduced in the Police Responsibility and Social Reform Act 2012.

The elected PCC replaces the Police Authority structure. Sue Mountstevens was elected as Avon and Somerset's first PCC in November 2012.

For full details of the role, responsibility and priorities of the PCC please visit the Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner website.

Anti-social Behaviour: Community Trigger

The community trigger is for you if you feel that no one is dealing with the anti-social behaviour problems you are experiencing.

If you have already reported a problem to the council, police or housing provider, the community trigger is a way for you to ask the agencies to review your case.

It will make sure we work together to try solve the problem.

Who can apply?

Anyone who is affected by anti-social behaviour is entitled to use the community trigger if they believe no action has been taken to solve a problem that has been reported to the police, council or housing provider.

The trigger brings all the agencies with responsibility to tackle anti-social behaviour problems together to review the case and try to find a solution.

The community trigger can be used by individuals, businesses or community groups whose case meets the criteria. Get involved

To be able to use the community trigger:

• One person must have made three reports about the problem within six months.
• More than one person or group must have made five reports involving the same location, culprit or problem within six months.

It doesn't matter which organisation you have reported the problem to previously, if you want to use the community trigger use the details for your area, listed below.

If you live in Somerset

Write to: Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, (Community Trigger) Bridgwater Police Centre, Express Park, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4RR
Call 101 and say you want to use the Somerset Community Trigger.