The Anti-Social Behaviour Task and Finish Group will consider a report titled Scoping Report, which sets out the proposed scope of the group's work. The group was proposed by Councillor Dawn Atkinson to consider anti-social behaviour in Lewisham and how the council and its partners respond to it.

The Scoping Report

This report is scheduled to be considered by the Task and Finish Group as part of its proposed work to produce recommendations about anti-social behaviour for Lewisham Council.

Anti-social behaviour in Lewisham

The report pack includes data on the levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Lewisham. It examines rates of police-recorded ASB offences per 1,000 people and compares rates across the borough's wards. It notes that

In the 12-month period to October 2024, Lewisham had a rolling 12-month rate of 22.5 police-recorded anti-social behaviour (ASB) offences per 1,000 population, slightly below the London average of 25.9.

The report also breaks down the types of ASB reported to the police, noting that the most common type of ASB was rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour. It goes on to say that:

These categories are only indicative as categorisation relies on callers identifying the type of ASB, communicating it to the call handler and the call handler recording it accordingly. This means specific categories are likely to be underestimated and may instead be reported under broader categories, such as Rowdy and Inconsiderate Behaviour.

Lewisham Council's current response to ASB

The report summarises the powers and duties of local authorities in relation to ASB under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, noting that Local authorities are subject to a general duty to exercise their functions with due regard to their likely effect on, and the need to do all they reasonably can to prevent, crime and disorder, including anti-social behaviour. It goes on to describe the ASB powers available under that act, the council's current Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), and the work of the Safer Communities Service's Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC).

Housing-related ASB

The report considers housing-related anti-social behaviour in relation to both private rented accommodation and social housing. It describes the powers and duties of both private and social landlords to address ASB. It sets out the absolute and discretionary grounds for possession of properties in cases of ASB, noting that:

To expedite the resolution of the most serious housing-related anti-social behaviour, where ASB or criminality has been proven by a court, upon the application of a landlord, a court must grant possession of a dwelling-house where the landlord has followed the correct process and at least one of the following five conditions is met [...]

The work of the Task and Finish Group

The report concludes by suggesting a methodology and timeframe for the group's work, and proposes a number of Key Lines of Enquiry, including How does ASB impact the community? Which groups are most impacted by ASB? and What successful approaches to reducing the incidence, severity and impact of ASB can be adopted in the Lewisham context?. The report also lists a number of organisations and individuals who could be approached to provide evidence, including ASB Help, London Councils, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and the Victims’ Commissioner.