Vale of Aylesbury Housing commended for tackling Anti-Social Behaviour in the Vale

Tracie Gilbert and Deputy Local Policing Area Commander Ollie Wright of Thames Valley Police

Vale of Aylesbury Housing’s Anti-Social Behaviour Strategic Manager Tracie Gilbert received a Commendation from the Deputy Local Policing Area Commander Ollie Wright of Thames Valley Police for her work in resolving a complex Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) case in Aylesbury. The presentation took place today (6 August).

The case involved a mother and her son who, despite being offered considerable support to change their behaviour, continued to harass neighbours, behave in a threatening and abusive manner and call the emergency services over 800 times in a three year period. This culminated in the Trust seeking possession of the property and evicting the offenders. Since the eviction, residents have reported no further problems and mother and son are now engaging with support to help change their behaviour.

‘We do not take the decision to evict lightly, but we will not tolerate residents making neighbours’ lives a misery,’ says Tracie. ‘The Trust is committed to putting a stop to the people participating in nuisance behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others.’

ASB is a national problem that affects many people. ‘In the Vale of Aylesbury we want our residents to feel safe in their own homes, enjoy living in their neighbourhoods and not have their every day lives blighted by nuisance behaviour,’ says Tracie.

The Trust receives relatively few reports of ASB each year. However those received are taken extremely seriously. Each issue is assessed and investigated thoroughly to ensure that the victim’s needs are addressed quickly and action is taken to resolve the issue.

The Trust’s Customer Relationship Managers will work closely with support agencies to find a lasting solution. ‘For some cases we will send warning letters to the perpetrator or install sound monitoring equipment to gather evidence’ says Tracie. ‘We also undertake enforcement action such ASB Injunctions, ASB Orders and ultimately possession of the property.’

By building positive and effective working relationships with other local agencies such as Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue and Aylesbury Vale District Council, the Trust has been able to respond efficiently to all ASB reports.

‘All agencies involved are dedicated to making a difference and to finding a long term solution and prepared to take the strongest action whenever necessary,’ says Tracie. ‘The Trust is dedicated to improving our neighbourhoods and we want to take the lead in creating a sustainable, safe and attractive community for current and future generations to live.’