Community Safety Message: Reporting Anti-Social Behaviour

Dear Residents,

We all want our neighbourhood to be a safe and welcoming place, and reporting anti-social behaviour (ASB) plays a crucial role in achieving that. While social media platforms like Facebook can be useful for sharing concerns, they are not an official reporting tool. To ensure issues are properly addressed, it’s important to report them through the correct channels.

How to Report Anti-Social Behaviour:

To the Police:

    • Call 101 for non-emergency ASB (e.g., vandalism, persistent noise, public disturbances).

    • Call 999 in an emergency (if a crime is in progress or there is an immediate danger).

    • Report online via Warwickshire Police - Report | Warwickshire Police

 

Local Authorities:

The Council and the Police work in partnership and share relevant information when a coordinated response is needed.

Content of your report:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• Descriptions/Details of offenders if known
• Vehicle details, make, model, colour, registration (If seen)

 

What NOT to Include in Your Report

When reporting ASB, it’s important to provide clear, factual, and relevant information. Avoid:

❌ Vague descriptions – Be specific about what happened, where, and when. Instead of saying, “Someone was acting suspicious,” describe their actions.

❌ Unverified accusations – Only report what you have witnessed or have evidence of. Speculation can lead to false reports.

❌ Personal disputes – If an issue is a private disagreement rather than ASB, consider mediation services or speaking to your local council.

❌ Social media posts as a substitute for reporting – Posting on Facebook may raise awareness, but it does not officially log the issue for investigation.

❌ Incidents that “might” happen – Only report actual occurrences not what you think could happen. Example: Instead of saying “A group of teenagers might cause trouble later” report, “At 8:00pm, a group of teenagers were throwing bottles in the park and shouting at passersby.”

Why Official Reporting Matters:

We’ve noticed that some residents post incidents on Facebook or inform their Parish Councillors but don’t report them to the authorities. While discussing concerns is valuable, without an official report, the police and council cannot take action. Reporting ensures:

✅ The issue is logged and investigated properly.

✅ The authorities can identify patterns and take preventative action.

✅ Resources are allocated effectively to tackle ASB in our area.

We encourage everyone to use the correct reporting channels while also supporting each other as a community. If you witness or experience anti-social behaviour, please report it directly to the appropriate authorities.

Thank you for helping keep the community safe.

Southam Safer Neighbourhood Team

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