Information Community Trigger

Content

The Community Trigger is an integral part of the Anti- social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which became law in October 2014.

Its purpose is to give victims and communities the right to request a review of their case and to bring agencies together to take a joined up, problem-solving approach to find a solution. In other words if people don’t feel that their complaints about anti social behaviour have been dealt with satisfactorily they can request a review of the case.

The relevant bodies and responsible authorities are Councils, Police, Clinical Commissioning Groups and registered providers of social housing.

In order to request such a review a threshold will have been set by the relevant bodies. In East and Mid Devon the Community Safety Partnership and both East and Mid Devon District Councils have agreed that the threshold should be three complaints about the behaviour in a 6 month period. Each complaint has to be made within one month from when the anti-social behaviour is alleged to have occurred.  ASB Help

Information for Trigger Process

What is the Community Trigger used for?

The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 brought in a new additional measure for people who have been victims of repeat anti-social behaviour.  This legislation makes it easier for a victim or someone acting on their behalf to make an application to have their case reviewed:  a review will look at every aspect of the specific case to establish how, when and where all available and appropriate actions were carried out. See Legislation.gov.uk - ASB Crime & Policing Act 2014.

• The Community Trigger is a process for problem solving and finding solutions for the victim(s) which cannot be achieved through single agency involvement.
• The relevant bodies and responsible authorities are councils, police, clinical commissioning groups and registered providers of social housing.
• The Community Trigger is not a platform for making complaints against organisations or specific individuals who may have input on a case. Complaints of this nature should be made through the relevant organisation’s formal complaints procedure.

When can I put in a Community Trigger application?

For your application to be accepted, it must meet the locally agreed threshold. For East & Mid Devon this is:

• The investigation into the anti-social behaviour has been completed.
• The first report of anti-social behaviour was made within one month of the alleged behaviour taking place.
• There have been 3 or more reports of anti-social behaviour to an agency in the last 6 months.
• The anti-social behaviour has caused Harassment, Alarm or Distress.
• The alleged incidents have all been reported to an agency, e.g.:  Devon & Cornwall Police, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council or a local Registered Social Landlord.
• The behaviour is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress (rather than nuisance and annoyance) to members or any members of the public.

How can I put in a Community Trigger application?

To activate a Community Trigger you can make contact;

By phone - You can contact Devon & Cornwall Police by ringing 101, or if you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, you can text phone 18001 101.

Telephone the Council's Community Safety Lead Officer on

East Devon District – 01404 515616

Mid Devon District – 01884 255255

In writing - Community Triggers can be received in writing however this will not actively be encouraged as a letter may not contain the required information. Should someone prefer to make a request in writing then the online form can be sent to them for completion.

Anonymous Community Triggers will not be accepted; however the contents will be passed to relevant agencies for intelligence purposes.

Any Community Triggers received will require the individual to consent to all information being shared with all relevant agencies.

Action for the review

Responding to the Community Trigger

Upon receipt of the Community Trigger request, the following actions will be taken by the single point of contact.

The victim / complainant will be written to acknowledging receipt of the Community Trigger. This should be within 7 working days of the Community Trigger being received.

The SPOC will contact all relevant agencies to notify of the Community Trigger and to seek relevant information to establish if the threshold has been met. Information should be provided within 7 working days from the Trigger being received.

On receipt of information from relevant agencies the Community Trigger Panel will be sent information by the SPOC and joint agreement reached to confirm that the threshold is, or isn’t met.

If the criteria is not met within 15 working days of the Trigger activation a letter will be sent to the victim(s) advising the outcome and the reasons as to why the criteria has not been met. Advice and guidance will be given to them on how to report any further problems and details of the appeals process provided.

If it is found the Trigger threshold is met the SPOC will notify all relevant agencies in order that they gather information / documentation ready for a Trigger Panel Review.

Undertaking the Community Trigger Assessment

Having received a Community Trigger all of the relevant agencies will meet to hold a Trigger Panel Review, if the case meets the threshold.

Outcomes of Review

The victim(s)/complainant will be notified of the outcome within 5 working days of the Trigger Panel Review meeting.

The criteria is not met The Trigger Panel may decide that the Community Trigger criteria has not been met after all. A letter will be sent to the victim(s) advising the outcome and the reasons as to why the criteria has not been met. Advice and guidance will be given to them on how to report any further problems and details of the appeals process provided.

The criteria has been met but no further action will be taken The Trigger Panel agrees that the Community Trigger criteria has been met however currently there is no further action that can be taken (e.g. ongoing investigations / pending court cases / insufficient evidence to proceed). Advice and guidance will be given to them on how to report any further incidents and details of the appeals process provided.

The criteria has been met and the Trigger Panel agrees that the Community Trigger has been met and recommendations and actions will be agreed . This may include additional actions for agencies which have previously been involved in the case, or new actions for agencies which may not previously have been involved. A single point of contact will be agreed to lead on the case and a letter will be sent to the victim(s) informing them of the proposed actions. 

Appeals

Appeals of the Community Trigger can be made to the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. Please refer to The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly website.

Community Trigger Activations

The Anti- social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 requires after the end of a reporting period, the relevant bodies in a local government area must publish information which relates to that period: Currently the EDDC Community Trigger process will not consider it a Community Trigger if a case is open but will undertake a review of the ASB case. The Thresholds and time scales are currently being reviewed alongside Devon ASB Forum and will be updated when they have been aligned