Still living a nightmare: Understanding the experiences of victims of anti-social behaviour
This report comes five years after the Victims’ Commissioner published her previous report on anti-social behaviour in 2019. Little appears to have changed since then, prompting the Commissioner to look to further understand the impact of anti-social behaviour on victims’ lives and explore their experiences of the current reporting, resolution, and support landscape.
The report identifies that for a large proportion of victims experiencing anti-social behaviour, it is ongoing, with many reporting suffering for over five years. Additionally, the report highlights the barriers victims experience when reporting and attempting to resolve the behaviour, which is compounded by the low proportion of anti-social behaviour victims who receive support.
- Over 500 victims of anti-social behaviour from across England and Wales completed the survey, with 13 victims of persistent anti-social behaviour participating in in-depth interviews.
- The report makes recommendations aimed at improving the understanding, identification and resolution of anti-social behaviour, in addition to improving support provision for victims.
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:
“Anti-social behaviour blights lives and communities. All too often it is not addressed effectively, often downplayed, and poorly understood. Despite my previous report setting out clear recommendations, I am disappointed that so little meaningful progress has been made. Too many victims continue to suffer, with many stuck in the same patterns of anti-social behaviour and facing the same perpetrators as five years ago. The time for empty promises is over – we now need real, tangible progress.”
Harvi Saimbhi, Chief Executive at ASB Help, said:
“It is disappointing that five years on we are still inundated with reports of the devastating impact of anti-social behaviour and how victims are let down on a daily basis. Something simply has to change! We fully endorse the recommendations made in this report, as they underpin victims’ experiences and pleas for help. They also give much needed clarity and focus to partners across England and Wales and perhaps most importantly will empower victims and bring respite to those experiencing ASB. Now is the time for positive change.”
Rebecca Bryant, OBE, Chief Executive at Resolve, said:
“We know that it is often the ongoing, persistent, continuing anti-social behaviour that causes the most harm to victims. We fully support all the recommendations in this report, which, if implemented, would significantly fix the current system whereby many victims of harmful, persistent ASB are unable to access support.”