11 Jul 2025
At Acis Group our Safer Communities Team work hard to create positive, respectful, and safer neighbourhoods. We work with local authorities and agencies across our communities, and we pride ourselves on our approach to antisocial behaviour. We focus on improving behaviours, building better relationships, and creating respectful communities.
Over the course of 18 months, we worked with a family to solve ASB happening on their street. The family complained of noise nuisance next door that had started when a new neighbour moved in. The complainant referred to it as living in a drum.
We provided them with access to our Noise App and encouraged them to share any evidence with us over the coming weeks and months. The Noise App allows our tenants to record noise nuisance from neighbours. Once access is given, we then monitor this for a minimum of two weeks to enable us to understand if the noise meets the threshold to be dealt with under our ASB policy.
The complainant’s supplied us with dairy entries, video footage and noise recordings. By supplying different kinds of evidence and using the Noise App our team were able to take action quickly.
In this instance the noise nuisance was linked to arguing, banging cupboards and late-night visitors. Dogs later became a noise nuisance too.
The amount of evidence provided by the complainant meant that we could also identify other forms of issues, such as rubbish accumulating around the property, failure to look after the property inside and outside, and neglect of pets and children.
We involved local agencies in this case from early on, working with local authorities, and connecting the family causing the ASB with mental health agencies. We also worked with social services to ensure that their child was looked after and alerted the RSPCA about their pets. The support we and other agencies offered was refused.
We have a process for issuing ASB warnings, from warning letters to visits to legal action. In this incident we issued an unacceptable behaviour warning, notice of seeking possession and a solicitor’s letter but the behaviour continued. As a result, we applied to the court for an injunction, which was granted. This injunction was breached immediately.
What is an injunction?
An Injunction is a civil power used to stop ASB or make sure someone carries out a specific action. A power of arrest can be included for cases involving violence or threats of violence. They are used to prevent ASB turning into criminal offences. A breach could lead to a fine or imprisonment up to 2 years.
The warnings, injunction, and conversations failed to lead to a change in behaviour. Therefore, we returned to court and asked for immediate possession of the property, this was granted due to the level of ASB and the failure to keep up with rental payments.
The amount of evidence gathered by the complainant was key to this case. They had gathered evidence from across the 18-month period, allowing the court to grant us a successful outcome.
If you’re concerned about ASB in your area you can report it through MyAcis, email (info@acisgroup.co.uk) or by ringing our Customer Service Centre (0800 027 2057).