Anti-social behaviour

If you’re unhappy with how your case is handled, you may be able to apply for an antisocial behaviour (ASB) case review. 

The ASB case review, previously known as the ‘Community Trigger’, gives victims who have persistently reported problems of antisocial behaviour the right to request a multi-agency review of their case, where they believe their report has not been properly addressed and no action. 

The ASB case review does not replace the complaints procedures of the Council or other community safety partners. It also does not affect your right to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman or Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Relevant bodies

If the case meets the threshold, then the relevant bodies have a statutory duty to undertake that review.

The relevant bodies include the:

• Relevant London borough council for the area
• Police force covering the area
• Local providers of social housing who are co-opted into the local arrangement
• Relevant clinical commissioning group in England

ASB case review threshold

The ASB case review threshold is automatically met where:

1. an application for an ASB case review is made, and
2. at least three qualifying complaints have been made about the anti-social behaviour to which the application relates.

For the purposes of the ASB case review procedures, the definition of a qualifying complaint is:

• the complaint is made within one month beginning with the date on which the behaviour is alleged to have occurred; and
• the application for the ASB case review is made within six months of beginning with the date on which the complaint was made.

In addition, regard will be given to:

• the persistence of the ASB about which the original complaint was made.
• the harm caused, or the potential for harm to be caused, by the anti-social behaviour.
• the cumulative effect of the incidents and consideration the harm or potential harm caused to the victim.
• the adequacy of the response to the anti-social behaviour.

For the purposes of the review of cases with no action the definition of ‘no action has been taken’ is:

• the reported problems have not been acknowledged i.e. no one has contacted the victim to advise what action would be taken
• the reported problems have not been appropriately investigated by the relevant authorities
• the victim’s vulnerability and/or the potential for harm has not been considered and this has affected the potential service delivery
• no action has been taken because information has not been shared between partners and this has affected potential service delivery.

When considering any application for an ASB case review, ASB means behaviour causing harassment, alarm or distress to any member or members of the public.

Please note: Applications for ASB case reviews made anonymously, or which are considered to be frivolous and/or vexatious, will not be considered.

Before you start 

A victim or someone acting on their behalf should use the ASB case review process if they have reported antisocial behaviour to the Council, Police and/or a registered housing provider (social landlord) three times about separate incidents in the last six months or multiple complaints (5 or more) of the same incident.

The ASB case review cannot be used to report general acts of crime or hate crime and does not replace the formal complaints procedures of individual organisations.

Apply for a case review

When completing the form, you will need to give details of:

• each time you have complained
• who was involved (name of person(s), organisations reported to and/or Incident Reference Number(s)
• the incident(s) and information about the antisocial behaviour

To request an ASB case review:

• fill out the ASB case review application form and email it to ASBunit@merton.gov.uk with the subject heading 'ASB Case Review', or
• post the completed form, or write a letter to the ASB Case Review, (ASBU), Community Safety Team, Civic Centre, Morden SM4 5DX, or
• telephone 020 8274 4907 and say you wish to activate an ASB case review.

What can I expect?

We’ll acknowledge receipt of your form within 3 working days and pass your case to an ASB case review panel of representatives from local agencies. 

Once you've activated the ASB case review, the Safer Streets Team Manager will decide if the threshold has been met. This will take up to 10 working days. If it doesn’t, you’ll be told why and your case will continue to be dealt with by the agency you have reported it to.

If the threshold is met, relevant agencies will review your case.

They'll look at how the partnership has responded to:

• sharing information
• reviewing actions already taken
• if necessary, make recommendations on how to resolve the problem

This review will happen within 28 days of the decision being made.

Appeals will be considered by the Head of Community Safety. We will hear appeals within 15 working days of the appeal being received.

Annual report on ASB case review

Policy and procedure

Merton Council Anti-Social Behaviour Team Policy and Procedure (April 2025)

Contact us

Anti-social Behaviour Team
Community Safety
Merton Council
Civic Centre
London Road
Morden 
SM4 5DX

Telephone: 020 8274 4901
Email: asbunit@merton.gov.uk