Our services

Anti-Social Behaviour

BNCHA recognises that, left unchallenged, anti-social behaviour can have a significant negative impact on the lives of our members and the community. The co-op responds in a timely and co-ordinated way to incidents of anti-social behaviour and takes a pro-active approach to preventing anti-social behaviour occurring in the first place.

The co-op recognises:

• that anti-social behaviour may affect our members, other people living with or visiting our members, and other residents in neighbouring areas to our homes
• the rights of individuals to a fair hearing and that there should be a presumption of innocence until the facts about any complaint of anti-social behaviour have been established
• that everyone has a right to enjoy their own lifestyle but only where this does not interfere with the rights and quality of life of other residents
• the need to ensure that all members and residents are treated fairly, consistently and equitably and to take into account any particular needs of a member or resident from a disadvantaged background.

BNCHA defines anti-social behaviour as conduct which is capable of causing a nuisance or annoyance to any person, which directly or indirectly relates to or affects the co-op’s operations and using or threatening to use the co-op’s homes for an unlawful purpose.

Examples of anti-social behaviour can include, but are not limited to:

• any kind of criminal behaviour
• harassment, hate incidents and hate crime
• graffiti and vandalism
• damaging another person’s possessions or property
• racial harassment and/or other hate related behaviour
• alcohol abuse and drunken behaviour
• nuisance from pets and animals
• excessive noise
• dumping rubbish, fly tipping and littering
• misuse of communal areas
• problems caused by vehicles
• any breaches of tenancy conditions
• domestic disputes and domestic abuse
• other activities that can cause nuisance.

BNCHA will deal with incidents of anti-social behaviour and harassment in accordance with our Anti-Social Behaviour and Harassment Policy available here. 

Racial harassment  BNCHA will aim to ensure that no member, resident, staff member or other person lives in fear of racial harassment or violence.  BNCHA will not tolerate racial harassment or violence and will take steps to eradicate it.  The report on the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (1999) defines a racist incident as “any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person”.  Racial harassment and abuse can occur in a variety of forms. Whilst this list is not exhaustive it indicates the range of unacceptable behaviour:

• racial abuse – verbal and written
• racially abusive behaviour such as spitting, threats, theft, offensive items left on doors and posted through letterbox
• physical assaults on victims, their dependants and relatives
• incitement – stirring up racial hatred by a variety of means such as petitions, leaflets and stickers
• damage to property – such as racist graffiti and slogans, bricks through windows and doors, damage to cars, other possessions and arson
• threats to wellbeing or life – such as lighted matches or rags being put through a letterbox
• behaviour such as wearing racist badges or insignia. Circulating racist material or material from groups known to be racist via social media.
• racist graffiti.

If a member or anyone connected to BNCHA considers that they are the victim of racial harassment, they may raise the issue with our housing team or our office, and we will discuss appropriate action to address the problem with them in accordance with our Racial Harassment Policy available here.