Victims’ Commissioner highlights torment of persistent anti-social behaviour on ‘forgotten’ victims

Five years after Baroness Newlove’s landmark report, Living a Nightmare, first highlighted the grim reality of victims and called for change, her latest report reveals no meaningful progress has been made.

Baroness Newlove said victims were “being pushed to the brink”, with almost two-thirds still facing unresolved issues despite reporting to authorities, with some cases ongoing for more than five years.

Drawing on more than 500 first-hand victim accounts, the report unveils several stark findings.

Most victims who participated in the research reported being tormented for years. Despite reporting the anti-social behaviour to a responsible agency, such as the police, local authority or housing association, 63 per cent of victims said they were still being targeted when replying to the survey.

A staggering 40 per cent of those who had reported the behaviour were still suffering from issues that predate Baroness Newlove’s 2019 report. Less than a third said they have received any help or support.

One victim said: “My house used to be, a place of solace and comfort, really. And then it became, I think, like a prison.”

Victims say their pleas are often ignored or go unheard – four in five (83 per cent) reported the anti-social behaviour to the police, local authorities or housing associations in hope of resolving the issue. Yet for a majority of victims, the abuse remained unresolved, with the report highlighting several instances where victims were “ignored or dismissed” by the responsible agencies, with one victim even recounting being laughed at by a police officer.

One victim said: “For three years at least, police didn’t do nothing. Nothing at all. They just told us not to react and just to report.”

The report reveals that being persistently targeted by various forms of anti-social behaviour for hours day and night, over a prolonged period, takes a severe toll on victims.

It affects many aspects of their daily lives, including their mental health and wellbeing. Victims who responded to the survey report the detrimental impact upon their sleep, relationships, and ability to work. Some suffered so greatly that they contemplated taking their own life.

One victim said: “I suffered with really bad anxiety through it. It got to the point where I felt my mental health got that low, that I felt the only way out was the inevitable, you know. I didn’t want to be here anymore. That’s how bad it got.”

Seventy-eight per cent of victims experienced at least two different types of anti-social behaviour – increasing to three different types for as many as 60 per cent of those surveyed. They describe a combination of persistent noise nuisance, verbal abuse, harassment and intimidation – the most common types of anti-social behaviours – often with no end in sight.

The report says some were left with no choice but to move house entirely to escape. “However, this option isn’t available to all victims and nor should it need to be. Yet in some cases, their situation has become so desperate, they feel forced to explore this last resort,” says the report.

Other findings include:

• Victims face numerous obstacles when trying to resolve anti-social behaviour, such as systemic inaction from responsible agencies, poor understanding among staff and a lack of agency collaboration;
• The process of reporting itself can have a negative impact on victims, leaving them feeling ignored, dismissed, or overburdened by excessive reporting requirements; and
• The Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review rarely resolves the issues victims face. Although meant to address anti-social behaviour, the mechanism “lacks independence and meaningful victim engagement”, the report says.

The findings come as the new government promises to “crack down on anti-social behaviour” in its manifesto and ‘first steps for change’ commitments.

Baroness Newlove said: “Anti-social behaviour blights lives and communities. All too often it is not addressed effectively, often downplayed, and poorly understood. Despite my previous report setting out clear recommendations, I am disappointed that so little meaningful progress has been made.

“Too many victims continue to suffer, with many stuck in the same patterns of anti-social behaviour and facing the same perpetrators as five years ago. The time for empty promises is over – we now need real, tangible progress.”

Five years after her landmark report on anti-social behaviour, the Victims’ Commissioner has issued a renewed plea for action, including a series of victim-focused recommendations:

• Police need to identify patterns of anti-social behaviour offending and ensure appropriate action is taken;
• Victims of persistent anti-social behaviour must be granted their rights under the Victims’ Code, ensuring they have access to support services just like other crime victims;
• The Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review mechanism must be improved to effectively serve victims and resolve cases of anti-social behaviour; and
• Victims should have a single point of contact throughout their case to stop them being passed from pillar to post.

Commenting on the report, Harvi Saimbhi, chief executive at ASB Help, said: “It is disappointing that five years on we are still inundated with reports of the devastating impact of anti-social behaviour and how victims are let down on a daily basis.

“Something simply has to change. We fully endorse the recommendations made in this report, as they underpin victims’ experiences and pleas for help. They also give much needed clarity and focus to partners across England and Wales and perhaps most importantly will empower victims and bring respite to those experiencing anti-social behaviour. Now is the time for positive change.”

Rebecca Bryant, OBE, chief executive at Resolve, said: “We know that it is often the ongoing, persistent, continuing anti-social behaviour that causes the most harm to victims. We fully support all the recommendations in this report, which, if implemented, would significantly fix the current system whereby many victims of harmful, persistent anti-social behaviour are unable to access support.”

Baroness Newlove said anti-social behaviour “is not a statistic”, added: “It is a lived experience; one I share with countless victims up and down the country.

“In 2007, a campaign of anti-social behaviour tore apart my family’s ordinary life and culminated with the senseless murder of my husband, Garry. My story is only unique in its tragic outcome.

“The relentless harassment, the ignored pleas for help, the sense of powerlessness – these are the grim realities countless ordinary families face every day.

“Garry’s death should have been a turning point. Yet, 17 years later, I fear too little has changed. Victims are being failed and pushed to the brink.

“We urgently need a system that not only protects victims but also restores communities and transforms homes from places of fear into places of sanctuary.”

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ joint leads on local policing, Chris Nelson and Matt Storey, said: “We know that anti-social behaviour has a huge impact on people’s lives and wellbeing, and the testimonies contained in this report are powerful. These examples of anti-social behaviour are not ‘just’ neighbourhood disputes, they highlight persistent and distressing crimes against those who subsequently live in fear of violence, harassment and damage to their property.

“Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) work with their police forces to ensure individuals can live freely and safely in their homes and communities through measures to prevent and combat anti-social behaviour, as well as to provide effective support services for victims.

“Whilst PCCs fund services to support those victims of criminal anti-social behaviour, more must be done to fill the void that exists in terms of funding and support when anti-social behaviour falls short of a crime. This needs to be matched by funding to address the increased demand on existing support services that are already under significant pressure.

“We endorse the report’s recommendations around improving the ease, quality and consistency of the anti-social behaviour Case Review process for victims. To ensure this recommendation results in tangible change, we ask the Government to reinstate provisions previously in the Criminal Justice Bill that place a requirement for PCCs to be involved within the process, both through promoting it and providing an escalation route for victims.”