Sandwell Council has formally approved a revised Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Policy intended to strengthen the council's response to nuisance and criminal behaviour across the borough as its Safer 6 campaign reaches its final week.
What the new policy says
The policy sets out how the council will respond when residents report incidents of anti-social behaviour. It is designed to ensure those affected receive support, that vulnerable residents are protected, and that the council takes action when behaviour is persistent, serious or causes harm.
Measures announced alongside the policy include:
- Doubling the number of Anti-Social Behaviour Officers employed by the council;
- Improvements to CCTV coverage across the borough;
- Closer working arrangements with West Midlands Police and partner organisations to prevent crime and identify offenders.
Council view and approach
“When people need help to change their behaviour, we will offer support. But if someone continues to cause problems after being warned, we will use all the powers available to us to take action.”
The quotation above is from Councillor Bob Jones, Cabinet Member for Environment and Enforcement. He said the policy was a demonstration of the council’s commitment to keeping communities safe and responding to what residents told the council are some of their biggest concerns.
Practical implications for residents
Residents reporting ASB can expect a clearer set of procedures for how the council will act — from victim support and safeguarding to enforcement where appropriate. The expanded officer team should increase the council’s capacity to investigate complaints and the improved CCTV is intended to assist in detecting and evidencing incidents.
The council has published the full policy and asks residents to use the online reporting route for anti-social behaviour. The policy document is available on the council’s governance pages for anyone seeking detail on the powers and processes the council will use.
| Action | Expected effect |
|---|---|
| More ASB officers | Increased investigation capacity and faster responses |
| Improved CCTV | Better incident detection and evidence gathering |
| Partnership working | Coordinated prevention and offender identification |
The policy and the supporting measures form the council’s pledge to balance support for those needing help to change their behaviour with enforcement against repeat or harmful offenders. Residents can find reporting details and the policy text on the Sandwell Council website.
