Incidents of antisocial behaviour (ASB) are taking longer to tackle because of inconsistent and insufficient information sharing between agencies, a new survey of councils has found.
The joint survey, commissioned by the LGA and community safety organisation Resolve, highlights how poor-quality information sharing – particularly from housing providers to community safety partnerships (CSPs) – can delay action to address instances of ASB.
Eight out of 10 councils (83 per cent) reported that current information-sharing agreements between agencies cause delays in their investigations and acting against perpetrators; and 94 per cent thought that, to a great or moderate extent, a closer relationship between housing providers and CSPs leads to improved outcomes relating to ASB.
Most councils (85 per cent) said they would support a single information-sharing agreement, standardising the process across the country and bringing more organisations in to access the data.
The LGA and Resolve are calling on the Government to standardise the sharing of ASB information and enable housing providers to work more closely with CSPs to improve ASB intervention outcomes.
Cllr Heather Kidd, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “Tackling antisocial behaviour is a key priority not just for government, councils and the police, but for our residents too. This survey shows very clearly what councils want and need to be more effective in tackling ASB. It does not help residents if we see a delay in taking action because of poor information sharing and duplicate reports to agencies that should be working together.”