Quality Homes Excellent Services Community Values Exceeding Expectations

Do not suffer. Report

domestic violence RFHA. St. Peter’s House, 101 Wellingborough Road,

Rushden, Northamptonshire, NN10 9YL

Tel: 01933 411400 Email: info@rfha.org.uk

Whether it’s a barking dog

or racial abuse, RFHA is committed

to protecting itsresidents

Anti-SocialBehaviour,

Domestic Violence & Hate Crime

How you can report ASBTo report incidents of ASB to us please contact us on 01933 411400, email: info@rfha.org.uk or asbo@rfha.org.uk. We will respond in one working day to advise you who will be dealing with the case and the timescales in which they will contact you to discuss the problem.

Domestic Violence Domestic violence is most commonly violence by men against women and children; however domestic violence can also be committed by women against men, by partners in same sex relationships and by teenage or adult children against parents.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can get help. In an emergency you should contact the police. They can put you in touch with agencies that can help you. Alternatively you can contact your Housing Offi cer. We will always deal with reports of domestic violence sympathetically and confi dentially. Offi cers will not pass on information to anyone else except with the agreement of the victim or unlesswe are required to do so by law or where information is needed for the protection of children. If requested you can speak to a female member of staff. If you are a victim of domestic violence we will give

you information about your housing options andprovide details of other agencies that are able to give advice and assistance. Action might include a referral to Women’s Aid, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Local Authority Homelessness Team or advice to contact a solicitor or the police. Where alternative accommodation is necessary, the Housing Offi cer will give advice about claiming housing benefi t on two homes or any other relevant benefi t advice.

In some circumstances, you might need to move from your home quickly. RFHA has a very low number of empty properties. It might therefore be diffi cult to arrange a transfer to another RFHA property. However, RFHA has close links with the homelessness team and refuges in the district and will seek as far as possible to work with these agenciesto ensure that you are offered accommodation that is suitable to your needs. However this does depend on the accommodation available at the time. If you do notneed immediate help but would like to talk through your options with a sympathetic and confi dential listener you can contact the following numbers:

National Centre for Domestic Violencewww.ncdv.org.ukTel: 0844 8044 999 Text: ‘NCDV’ to 60777 Women’s Aid National Helpline Tel: 0808 2000 247 (24 hours) Aftercare 07767 302 742 Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk

MankindTel: 01823 334244

Hate CrimesRFHA will treat any report of hate crime committed by, or against our tenants, or members of their household, very seriously.

Hate crime is any criminal offence carried out against someone because of their sex, race, religion, disability or sexuality. It can be any behaviour that interferes with the peace, comfort and safety of people in their home and neighbourhood.

RFHA will assist victims of hate crime to take action. It is important to record and report incidents as early as possible to stop the situation becoming worse. If tenants or people living with them commit hate crime, not only are they breaking the law, they are also in breach of their tenancy, and legal action may be taken which could result in eviction.

RF/RP:04.2012 Doc. 5-10

5

Quality Homes Excellent Services Community Values Exceeding Expectations

Anti-Social Behaviour, Domestic Violence & Hate Crime

5 Dealing With Anti-Social BehaviourDomestic Violence & Hate Crime

We are committed to taking appropriate action to deal with Anti Social Behaviour (ASB), in any form, carried out by, or towards our tenants. All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that our tenants comply with their responsibilities under the terms of their tenancy agreement. We will not tolerate ASB towards our employees or contractors and will deal fi rmly with such incidents.

What is Anti Social Behaviour?There is no precise defi nition of ASB in housing. Broadly, it is acting in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

There may be a fi ne line between ASB and disputes between neighbours over relatively minor inconveniences, although these may, if persistent, become ASB.ASB can include:

• Intimidation of neighbours and others through threats or actual violence

• Harassment, including racial harassment

• Verbal abuse

• Homophobic behaviour

• Abusive behaviour aimed at causing distress or fear to certain people, for example, the elderly or disabled

• Excessive noise

• Dumping rubbish

• Animal nuisance, including dog fouling

• Vandalism, property damage and graffi ti.

Neighbour Disputes:Resolving the problem yourself If you are having problems with a neighbour it is usually better to speak to them yourself fi rst. It may be that they are unaware that they are causing a nuisance to you. Discuss the problem when you are calm and explain how their behaviour is affecting you. If your neighbour reacts unreasonably, don’t get into an argument, just walk away.

Helping us to resolve the problemIf the situation does not get any better after talking to your neighbour, or if you think it is too serious to deal with by yourself, you should contact your Housing Offi cer. They will look into your complaint and discuss the matter with you in detail to agree on an appropriate course of action. If both parties are agreeable, your Housing Offi cer may recommend independent mediation. The mediator will arrange a meeting, either with each party separately or together, in order to jointly agree a compromise.

We cannot resolve all neighbour disputes, but if the perpetrator is breaking the terms of their tenancy agreement there is action that can be taken to deal with their behaviour.

The action we can take will depend on whether the perpetrator is our tenant, as well as your co-operation and willingness to help provide the evidence required.

How we will deal with complaints of Anti Social Behaviour We will treat all complaints of ASB seriously and investigate each one carefully. Complaints of ASB can be made verbally, in writing, or by completing a Complaint Form, which is available on request. Our telephone number and e-mail addresses are shown on the back of this leafl et. You will be kept informed throughout the investigation and told of the outcome and any action that has been taken.

Tools available to deal with Anti-Social Behaviour Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) Often used with children and young people, but can be equally used for adults where a warning has been unsuccessful.

Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction (ASBI) Can be used when someone (over the age of 18) is committing ASB, including causing nuisance and annoyance, verbal abuse, threats of violence, untidy gardens.

Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO) Can be used for anyone aged 10 and over who has displayed ASB in the previous 6 months and who isn’t responding to an Acceptable Behaviour Contract.

Demotion of Tenancy Order If granted, the order takes away tenants’ rights under an Assured Tenancy. The tenancy becomes an assured shorthold with limited rights which can be ended by giving 2 months’ notice.

Family Intervention Projects Can be used to help a family address the causes of their ASB, along with supervision and enforcement.

Possession Order A Possession Order is a legal enforcement tool which brings a tenancy to an end. Because the consequences are so serious, Possession Orders are sought only when other options to resolve ASB have proved unsuccessful.

RFHAtakes any

report of ASBseriously