Spring is here – time to enjoy the outdoors!

As the days get longer and the weather warms up, there's no better time to step outside and enjoy everything spring has to offer. Whether it's a picnic in the park, a stroll around your neighbourhood, or just soaking in some sunshine, getting outside is good for our wellbeing. It’s a time for children to run around and play, families to gather, and communities to spend time together.

Enjoying the weather responsibly

While we’re all eager to enjoy the sunny weather, it’s essential that we do so in a way that promotes a safe environment for everyone. We want our communities to be happy and welcoming. This means respecting those around us and being mindful of how our actions affect others.

Some actions, whether intentional or not, can make others feel unsafe or cause unnecessary disturbances. The official definition of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is ‘behaviour causing nuisance and annoyance or harassment alarm or distress’. Let’s all do our part to ensure that our neighbourhoods remain welcoming for everyone.

What is Anti-Social Behaviour?

ASB can take many forms and have devastating effects on victims and communities. Common types of ASB include:

• Noise. Loud parties, vehicles, or even barking dogs can disturb the peace.
• Drugs. Drug-related activity, including drug dealing or misuse, can create unsafe environments. This is a criminal offence, so don’t hesitate to report suspicious behaviour to the Police.
• Hate crime or incidents. Any form of harassment or discrimination based on race or perceived race, religion or perceived religion, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender is unacceptable. If you witness or experience a hate crime or incident, report it to us.

If you notice any troubling behaviour, you can confidentially report it to us, the Police, or organisations like CrimeStoppers.

Safety is everyone’s responsibility

We all have a role to play in keeping our neighbourhoods safe. Part of the commitment you make when you move into one of our homes is not to behave in a way which could negatively affect those living around you.

As a tenant, you have the right to report ASB to us or other agencies. We will listen to you and take our responsibility seriously to tackle and resolve these behaviours as best we can. Our staff will listen to everyone involved, identify any areas where support is needed and make a plan to resolve the issues. It’s vital everyone plays their part in that plan for it to succeed

If you have reported ASB to us, we might need to open a case with you. You’ll be assigned a case handler - they will complete a risk assessment with you and create an action plan with input from you. You may be asked to keep a record of what’s happening to help us decide what to do next.

Identifying domestic abuse

Domestic abuse can sometimes be difficult to recognise, but if you suspect someone might be experiencing domestic abuse of any kind, you can tell us. A simple conversation or an anonymous report can make a world of difference to someone in need of help.