Cases of ASB reported to the MPS from November 2016 to October 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.033668

I note you seek access to the following information:

1) How many cases of ASB have been reported to the Met in the calendar year 2023 so far?

2) Is this an increase or decrease in ASB reported from previous calendar years since 2016?

3) What is the Met doing to try and control ASB across London?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many cases of ASB have been reported to the Met in the calendar year 2023 so far?
Q2 - Is this an increase or decrease in ASB reported from previous calendar years since 2016?

Please see spreadsheet below

Q3 - What is the Met doing to try and control ASB across London?

What we are doing now:

• Neighbourhood teams actively investigate and case manage ASB to resolve and reduce ongoing issues;
• The vulnerability of each victim is assessed at the point of reporting, then at the point the incident is received by the neighbourhood team, ensuring the right response, support and problem solving action takes place;
• We utilise the ASB Early Intervention Scheme, which involves partners in intervention and support work and leads to better implementation of ASB Crime and Policing 2014 powers to address recidivism to reduce demand of repeat calls;
• A new IT system will be rolled out in 2024 which will improve ASB investigation further by linking issues, perpetrators and locations;
• We will continue to work with statutory partners in refreshing joint ASB intelligence and tasking of Local Authority wardens, closer working with probation (Community Payback) and Youth Diversion within London Crime Prevention Fund (LCPF initiatives);
• Attending the regular MOPAC ASB Forum to further the “safety” agenda within Strategic Partnership priorities identifying ASB as the main reason people don’t feel safe in their community (Trust and Confidence);

Emerging Plans and Ideas:
• There is currently a redesign of Neighbourhood Policing Model under Strongest Ever Neighbourhoods Policing (SENP) across 32 London Boroughs which will involve:
o Looking at the ASB teams provision across London including more co-location of ASB, Licensing and Digital Community Officers in council setting;
o Creation of a Performance Framework to monitor work and activity on ward priorities around ASB to feedback to ward panels and other key stakeholders;
o Use of tactics such as Clear Hold Build to problem solve high crime and associated ASB in high harm, low confidence areas;
• Prompt uptake/bids of Safer Streets Funding linked to design out crime and ASB. Looking at CCTV coverage and street furniture in areas where ASB is high e.g. transport hubs;
• Seasonal activity plans incorporated within Community Crime Fighting plans specifically around ASB;
• Better use of volunteers and “Community Ambassadors” to connect and build “local pride” in areas we live and police – abandoned shops, environmental changes with councils to design out ASB;
• More emphasis beyond hotspot policing in neighbour disputes working with local authorities to intervene early using local hubs for communities to dock into;
• ASB analytics featuring in more products and reports with the advent of new ASB investigation and problem solving systems;
• Monitoring Home Office central “ASB Hub” concept for reporting, as opposed to council and police data being held separately;
• Monitoring digital “one stop shop” concept within trailblazers;
• Monitoring Metropolitan Police Victim Focus Desk pilots and how ASB could be incorporated beyond crime;
• Monitoring rough sleeping – new systems approach being discussed with Home Office linked to existing policy;
• Monitoring Home Office tactics to tackle ASB – increasing fines, making more holistic approach between Adult, Children, Integrated Care Boards;
• Similar to Right Care Right Person, seek to create an agreement with partners around how we talk about ASB and work on it together (discuss with NPCC lead);
• Using rapid polling software to understand a true real time picture of ASB across London.