The legal definition of antisocial behaviour (ASB) according to the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 is:
- Conduct that has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to any person.
- Conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises or
- Conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person.
How to report an antisocial behaviour incident and get help and support
Victims of antisocial behaviour can report incidents to their local council, Devon & Cornwall Police, your local Integrated Care Board and/or a Registered Housing Provider (social landlord).
Antisocial behaviour can be reported on the Devon & Cornwall Police website.
ASB Help provides help and support for victims of antisocial behaviour.
You can find more information about victim support services commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner at Victim Care Devon & Cornwall.
The Antisocial Behaviour Case Review (formerly Community Trigger)
The Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced a case review process for victims of persistent antisocial behaviour which seeks to support those that have been affected and have already reported events or complained to the relevant local agency. It does this by reviewing actions that have been previously undertaken by local authorities to address the antisocial behaviour and adopts a partnership and problem-solving approach to design a new action plan aimed at resolving the issue/s.
Devon & Cornwall Police and the region’s Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are working in consultation with the Police and Crime Commissioner to deliver Antisocial Behaviour Case Reviews across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Arrangements for the management of antisocial behaviour case reviews is due to change to reflect new processes being introduced by the Crime and Policing Act 2026. The date for these changes to come into effect has not yet been set, and these pages will be updated in due course.
Threshold for the Antisocial Behaviour Case Review
Where an individual has complained to a local council, Devon & Cornwall Police, an Integrated Care Board and/or a Registered Housing Provider (social landlord) three times about separate incidents of antisocial behaviour in the last six months, and those incidents have been reported within one month of occurring they should meet the threshold for his/her local Antisocial Behaviour Case Review.
Additional information on antisocial behaviour case reviews is provided on the Devon & Cornwall Police website.
Generally, you can apply for an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review through your local authority. Thresholds to activate a review are set by the following councils and authorities. Underneath each council there is a link supplied regarding Antisocial Behaviour Case Reviews and how to report any antisocial behaviour issues:
- Cornwall Council
https://safercornwall.co.uk/anti-social-behaviour/
- East Devon District Council
https://eastdevon.gov.uk/environmental-health-and-wellbeing/community-safety/community-trigger/
- Exeter City Council
https://exeter.gov.uk/clean-safe-city/community-safety/safer-exeter/community-safety-in-exeter/asb-case-review/
- Council of the Isles of Scilly
https://www.scilly.gov.uk/community-safety
- Mid Devon District Council
https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/community-safety/crime/anti-social-behaviour/community-trigger/
- North Devon Council
https://northdevon.gov.uk/community-safety-and-emergencies/anti-social-behaviour/
- Plymouth City Council
https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour-case-reviews-community-trigger
- South Hams District Council
https://www.southhams.gov.uk/environmental-health-and-nuisance/anti-social-behaviour-policy
- Teignbridge District Council
https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/clean-safer-neighbourhoods/anti-social-behaviour/
- Torridge District Council
https://www.torridge.gov.uk/article/20397/Anti-social-Behaviour-Review-formerly-Community-Trigger
- West Devon Borough Council
https://www.westdevon.gov.uk/anti-social-behaviour-policy
Antisocial Behaviour Case Review process
An Antisocial Behaviour Case Review may also include the police, local health teams and registered providers of social housing. These agencies also have a duty to undertake a case review when requested providing the case meets the locally defined threshold.
The other relevant statutory agencies for the Antisocial Behaviour Case Review in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly include Devon & Cornwall Police, Integrated Care Boards and social housing providers within the region.
If the threshold is met, an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review will be undertaken by the partner agencies. Agencies will share information related to the case, review what action has previously been taken and decide whether additional actions are required. The review should encourage a problem-solving approach aimed at dealing with some of the most persistent, complex cases of antisocial behaviour.
It should also be noted that when a request for a case review does not meet the threshold, a victim’s vulnerability will be considered to establish whether a review should proceed in any case.
All local Antisocial Behaviour Case Review procedures should clearly state the timescales in which the review will be undertaken.
The victim must be informed of the outcome of the review. Where further actions are necessary an action plan will be discussed with the victim, including timescales.
Escalation of the Antisocial Behaviour Case Review process to the Police and Crime Commissioner
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner acts as a route of appeal for complainants when they are dissatisfied with the outcome of their Antisocial Behaviour Case Review. We will review the way an application for an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review was dealt with by agencies and consider the appropriateness of actions taken.
If you have had an Antisocial Behaviour Case Review and would like to trigger an appeal, details on how to do this should be available on your review outcome letter. If you require assistance, please contact us.