Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Mayor of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has signed an Anti-Social Behaviour Pledge which commits the council to supporting victims of anti-social behaviour.

The pledge is a set of principles put forward by the victims’ charity ASB Help. ASB Help have previously assisted the Community Safety Partnership on complex community trigger applications.

A community trigger can be activated if an incident has been reported three or more times within a six month period and not received a satisfactory response. This gives the victim the right to demand that agencies deal with persistent anti-social behaviour.

The pledge’s aims are as follows:

• Promote awareness - Actively encourage the use of the community trigger to residents and partner agencies.
• Legality - Confirm an organisation is legally compliant and embracing the spirit of the community trigger.
• Ensure accessibility - Publicise the community trigger so the most vulnerable know what it is and how to invoke it.
• Develop the process - Embrace the full potential of the community trigger by continually reviewing and learning from best practice.
• Generate inclusivity - Use community trigger review meetings to work collaboratively and strategically, formulating solutions to end the anti-social behaviour.
• Establish a precedent of using the community trigger to put victims first and deter perpetrators.

Councillor John Beckett, Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee, said “Anti-Social behaviour is not welcome in Epsom & Ewell and we work hard with partner agencies to both reduce and prevent it. Anti-social behaviour can be anything from neighbourhood issues and noise nuisance to tall vegetation, bonfires, flytipping and inconsiderate parking. 

“I would like to reassure victims of any sort of anti-social behaviour that we are there to support them. Signing this pledge is a reminder for us as a council and for our partners in the Community Safety Partnership to work more closely with ASB Help and ensure victims are effectively assisted.”

For more information on how to report a community trigger please see https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/communities-health-and-wellbeing/epsom-and-ewell-community-safety.