Analysis of largest ever sample survey of ASB victims in Wales who contacted Police over one-month period in (N=200 per force).

Key Findings 1.A high proportion of victims who contact the police are repeat callers and have some identifiable vulnerability. 2.A third of all victims in Wales say they experienced intimidation or repercussions as a result of reporting ASB to the police. 3.The highest volume of calls to the police about ASB are from home owners but vulnerability is concentrated within social housing in Wales.

The ASB Problem: Wales Volume of recorded ASB falling across Wales not mirrored by public perceptions. Reduced police and partner funding the ‘new normal’. “Doing less with more”: –Identify risk of harm at point of report; –Understand local profiles of vulnerability; –Target an early, appropriate and joined up response.

A Victim Perspective: How Harm of ASB is Amplified Anti-social Behaviour (Crime and Disorder Act, 1998) “acting in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any member of the public” Highest risk of Harm Personal, Situational and Incidental Vulnerabilities to ASB Harm: a follow up study (2013) :

Understanding Repeat Callers to the Police In 3 out of 4 Welsh forces, around one-quarter are contacting police 10+ times The vast majority of repeat callers can be identified as vulnerable

Connecting Repeat and Vulnerable Victim status (RVV) is key Categories of Repeat and Vulnerable Victim by Police Force

Post-report Harm A third said they experienced repercussions and intimidation as a result of reporting ASB to the police Negatively impacts on future reporting intentions. Post-report risk of Harm greatest among key vulnerable groups %

Acute: Social Housing Repeat and Vulnerable Victims are concentrated in social housing in Wales. The majority of callers in social housing live in areas of high deprivation. Risk of post- report harm among social tenants more than doubles if they are vulnerable in any way.

Multi-agency involvement in Wales In a sample of ASB victims who did call the police, other agencies were involved for: –23% in social housing –14% in private rented –11% in own home. Victim satisfaction lower for other partners than for the police in this survey. Less than half of RSL’s in Wales assess the risk of social harm that ASB presents for victims living in their properties (see Delaney, A. et al. ‘Wales Anti-Social Behaviour: Policy and Practice Review’. Welsh Government, 2014)

Policy and Practice 1.Management of caller demand: over half ring the police about ASB three or more times in a year. 2.Situational vulnerability integral to people’s lived experience of ASB and efforts to tackle poverty and inequality may have an impact here. 3.Need for post-report follow up to deal with reprisals and intimidation, to retain trust and confidence in police among vulnerable victims most at risk. 4.At the point of report, maximise opportunities for the police and others to identify vulnerability and assess the risk of harm with a common framework. 5.Opportunity for police to help other agencies improve their response.

Full Report Available for download at: