Report crime or anti-social behaviour. Learn how the Community Safety Partnership and the Community Trigger can support crime reduction. MARAC details also included.
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Crime and community safety
We take crime and fear of crime as important issues and work closely with our partners to reduce both.
If you need to report a crime you should contact Humberside Police.
In an emergency you should dial 999 when:
- there is a danger to life or a risk of injury being caused, such as a serious road accident or assault
- a crime is in progress, such as a robbery, burglary or theft, and the offender is still on the scene or has only just left the area
- the immediate attendance of police officer is necessary
Non-emergency crime reporting
In some cases an emergency response is not appropriate, for instance:
- burglary of non-domestic or commercial premises, for example, sheds and outbuildings
- theft
- criminal damage
- theft from or damage to vehicles
If the matter is less urgent then you should call the non-emergency number – 101.
For these case Humberside Police have created an online reporting form for you to use:
However if you want to report a crime or you think the police should be made aware of something, but you don’t want to give your name or address to the police then you should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
To report ASB, call:
- 999 in an emergency
- Humberside Police on 101 (non-emergency)
- Ongo on 01724 279900
- North Lincolnshire Council on 01724 297000.
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a broad term that is used to describe a number of different types of behaviour that can have a negative impact on local communities. Terms such as ‘nuisance’, ‘disorder’ and ‘harassment’ are also used.
Examples of ASB include:
- nuisance neighbours
- unacceptable behaviour and intimidating groups taking over public spaces
- vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting
- people dumping rubbish and abandoned cars
- begging and anti-social drinking
- misuse of fireworks
- reckless driving of mini-motorbikes
The responsibility for dealing with ASB can be shared between a number of agencies but particularly the local authorities, the police, registered social landlords, private landlords and a number of others.
Criminal damage can cover many things, from throwing an egg at your house, to scratching a car with a key. The official definition is, “criminal damage is any damage which has been caused by an individual intentionally or recklessly to property belonging to another without lawful excuse”.
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 was introduced to put victims at the heart of how we deal with ASB. It reduced the number of powers available to six. The new powers were designed to give professionals the flexibility to deal with a given situation quickly, and encourage multi-agency working to help alleviate ASB within local communities. These powers are now available for North Lincolnshire Council, Humberside Police and key partners to respond to ASB. They include:
- Civil Injunctions
- Criminal Behaviour Orders
- Community Protections Warning/Notice
- Public Space Protection Order
- Dispersal Power
- Closure Power
Along with this it also brought in the Community Remedy and the Community Trigger to give victims of ASB a voice and enable them to request that their ASB case is reviewed if they feel this has not been adequately dealt with.
There are also a number of options for early intervention with the aim of resolving the ASB before it reaches a level where formal powers are needed. These interventions are very successful and bring together many agencies that can have a significant impact on ASB, and help to improve the outcomes for all involved. Some of the types of early intervention that can help are:
- mediation
- acceptable behaviour contracts
- parenting contracts
- good neighbour agreements
- support for individuals and families
A referral to drug and alcohol services can also be made to support individuals.
For more information, take a look at the Government’s anti-social behaviour leaflet.
Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and issues
The PSPO [PDF, 506Kb] is one of the tools the council employs to control the minority of irresponsible dog owners. There are three separate parts of the Order relating to dog control:
- Dog faeces left by any dog should be removed immediately by the person in charge of or responsible for the dog.
- Dogs are excluded from enclosed children’s play areas and other designated sites such as schools.
- A single person cannot have more than four dogs in their sole charge.
Anyone found breaking the PSPO can be issued with an on the spot fixed penalty notice or prosecuted. See our fixed penalty notices page for details of fines.
What is the Community Safety Partnership (CSP)?
Each Local Authority area has a Community Safety Partnership made up of both statutory partners and key local partners. The functions of the CSP are set out in the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) and are primarily aimed at working together to reduce crime, disorder, substance misuse and reoffending.
What are the aims of the CSP?
The CSP works together to:
- Prepare a strategic assessment each year to assess areas of need in North Lincolnshire
- Develop and implement a Partnership Plan to steer the work of the Partnership
- Engage with the local community regarding their priorities
The CSP aims to build on the work of each partner agency and reap the benefits of working jointly to tackle key issues, whether these be identified by professionals, or by the public. The Partnership works jointly to reduce crime, and help people in North Lincolnshire feel safe and be safe.
The CSP works according to the principles of Outcome Based Accountability, put simply this considers the outcomes we would like to achieve for North Lincolnshire, where we are up to, and establishing how we are making a difference. Within this sit a series of performance measures where we can measure our progress and the impact of our work.
Our plan
Within our CSP Partnership Plan we have set out how we will work together to make North Lincolnshire a safe place to live, work and spend time.
The Plan has three themes covering all aspects of Community Safety work: Safe, Strong and Resilient. These three themes support North Lincolnshire Council’s ambitions that all communities within North Lincolnshire are safe, well, prosperous, and connected.
Safe communities – people feel safe and are safe
- Target offenders
- Protect the vulnerable
- Focus on communities in need
Strong communities – people take responsibility for their community
- Build community cohesion
- Develop volunteering
- Enhance Neighbourhood Watch and Action Teams
Resilient communities – people recover and withstand adverse impact
- Reduce impact of domestic abuse
- Reduce impact of substance and alcohol misuse
- Safeguard the vulnerable from exploitation
Each theme area has a strategic sub-group in order to plan, coordinate and deliver services and resources to meet the needs within our area. These sub-groups are led by Senior Managers within our Partner agencies to share the breadth of expertise and resources we have available across the Partnership.
Please email communitysafetypartnership@northlincs.gov.uk for a copy of the full plan.
The CSP Board
The North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership Board is Chaired by Humberside Police with North Lincolnshire Council holding Vice-Chair.
The following agencies are represented on the North Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership Board:
- Humberside Police
- Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
- North Lincolnshire Council
- National Probation Service
- Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company
- North Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group
- The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
- Ongo
The Board meets quarterly to maintain oversight of the work of the Partnership, the progression of the sub groups and set the strategic direction for the work. The Board also has a decision making function to approve funding bids, and has the ability to use funding to commission services to meet identified gaps in services.
Communication and engagement
Within the CSP structure sits a Communication and Community Engagement group, responsible for sharing messages both within the CSP and out to the public. The Communication and Community Engagement Framework outlines how we will work alongside our partners and consult with the communities we serve to bring the work of the Partnership Plan into reality.
Funding for voluntary and community groups
There is funding available from the Police and Crime Commissioner to assist projects within the North Lincolnshire area aimed at reducing crime and improving community cohesion.
If you have a project in mind we’d love to hear from you – please have a look at the funding information and details of how to apply for the Crime Reduction Fund.
Funding for partner organisations
Funding is available from the CSP for partner organisations for innovative projects to address crime and anti-social behaviour in North Lincolnshire.
Partner agencies can be any professional body or service working within North Lincolnshire. It is not limited to the statutory partners listed above.
If you have a project in mind we’d love to hear from you – please have a look at the funding information and details of how to apply for the CSP Partnership Fund.
Contacting the Community Safety Partnership
Contact us via email: communitysafetypartnership@northlincs.gov.uk
Please note this email address should not be used to report crime or disorder – there is advice available on the Humberside Police website about reporting a crime.
Find us on Twitter – @SafeNorthLincs
Please visit our community grants and funding page.
The Community Trigger gives victims and communities who are suffering from anti-social behaviour the right to ask that their case be reviewed if they feel that their complaint has not had an adequate response.
It is designed to make sure those agencies within the Community Safety Partnership work together to try to resolve anti-social behaviour within its locality.
The Community Trigger will not replace any individual agencies complaints procedure, so you can still complain via the council’s corporate complaints procedure or to the Independent Police Complaints Commission if you wish to do so.
The Community Trigger is for pre-existing anti-social behaviour (ASB) cases that have been reported to agencies at least three times in the previous six months and not for the general reporting of ASB incidents.
When can the Community Trigger be used?
The Community Trigger can be used to review a case if:
- You (as an individual) have complained about three separate incidents of anti-social behaviour in the last six months to Humberside Police, North Lincolnshire Council or a Registered Social Landlord
The persistence of the anti-social behaviour, the harm or potential harm caused or whether it is hate motivated will be taken into consideration when looking at whether or not the case has reached the above criteria.
Who can use the Community Trigger?
A victim of anti-social behaviour or someone acting on behalf of the victim can activate the trigger. This can be a member of the victim’s family, a carer, Member of Parliament or a local councillor. The victim can be an individual, a business or a community group.
How to activate the Community Trigger
If you believe that your complaint of anti-social behaviour has not be adequately dealt with you can fill in the Community Trigger form online:
Alternatively, you can:
- Email the Safer Neighbourhoods on saferneighbourhoods@northlincs.gov.uk
- Call the Customer Contact Centre on 01724 297000
- Submit your request in writing to:
Safer Neighbourhoods Team
Church Square House
30-40 High Street
Scunthorpe
DN15 6NL
You will need to provide details about the anti-social behaviour you are a victim to, the number of times you have complained, to whom you have complained and the method of complaint, for example, by telephone or via email.
If sending an email please make sure the subject is ‘Community Trigger’.
What will happen next?
Once you have requested a review of your case, a member of the Safer Neighbourhood Team will ask any agency involved to provide details of your complaints.
A minimum of two officers from two separate agencies will decide if the request meets the criteria for a review. You will be informed of their decision and if your request has not met the criteria, you will be informed why.
If the threshold is met, your case will be taken to a Multi-agency Review Panel who will look at the case and assess what has been done to try and resolve the case. The Review Panel will then decide what else can be done to help resolve the issues.
The review will take place within 28 days and you will be informed of the outcome in writing and whether or not further action will be taken with your case. If further actions are needed an action plan will be discussed with you.
If you are not satisfied with the decision of the Review Panel you can appeal to:
Principal Officer Safer Neighbourhoods
Church Square House
30-40 High Street
Scunthorpe
DN15 6NL
You will be informed of their decision within 28 days.
Previous Community Trigger activations within North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire Council must publish the last reporting period of activations as soon as practicable. This should include how many did not meet the threshold for the trigger and how many lead to further actions being taken.
October 2014 to end of March 2015
- two Community Triggers activated
- two did not meet the threshold for a review
- one appeal – which was not upheld at the appeal hearing and resulted in no further action
April 2015 to end March 2016
- seven Community Triggers activated
- five met the threshold
- two did not meet threshold
- four led to further action
- no appeals
April 2016 to end March 2017
- five Community Triggers activated
- two met the threshold for a review and both led to further action
- three did not meet the threshold for a review
- no appeals
April 2017 to end March 2018
- seven Community Triggers activated
- six met the threshold for a review and four of these led to further action
- one activation did not meet the threshold
- no appeals
April 2018 to end March 2019
- nine Community Triggers activated
- two met the threshold for a review and two of these led to further action
- seven activations did not meet the threshold
- no appeals
April 2019 to end March 2020
- eight Community Triggers activated
- five met the threshold for a review and four of these led to further action
- three activations did not meet the threshold
- no appeals
April 2020 to end March 2021
- seven Community Triggers activated
- four met the threshold for a review and one of these led to further action
- three activations did not meet the threshold
- no appeals
Contact details
saferneighbourhoods@northlincs.gov.uk
01724 297000
Church Square House
30-40 High Street
Scunthorpe
DN15 6NL
The MARAC is a meeting between representatives from different organisations in North Lincolnshire to discuss the risk of future serious harm to people experiencing domestic abuse and if necessary, their children. Their safety, health and wellbeing is considered and this includes providing a safety plan for them and their children.
Why hold a MARAC?
The MARAC is a coordinated response to domestic abuse where professionals share information to obtain a clearer picture. It is then able to provide the necessary targeted help to make the victim and children safer, with the aim of reducing the risk of further abuse. The MARAC is important in developing safeguarding action plans for the highest risk cases of domestic abuse.
How will the MARAC help me and my children?
If the agency that you are working with has suggested that your case should be discussed at a MARAC, it is because he or she believes you could be at risk of future serious harm due to domestic abuse. Once they have made a referral to MARAC, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) will contact you to discuss immediate safety planning and how they can support you through the MARAC process.
At the MARAC agency representatives will work together to provide you with services that meet your needs, and where necessary, those of your children. They will also agree a safety plan to assist in aiming to keep you and your family safer.
Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs)
North Lincolnshire has an IDVA service called The Blue Door. This service:
- is for women and men living in North Lincolnshire who are experiencing or have experienced domestic abuse, sexual abuse or violence
- offers support to all the service users of all risk levels
- provides risk assessment, safety planning and support to service users
- provides service users with their options, for example housing; criminal and civil options; support service users who have to appear in court as witnesses
- represents service users at North Lincolnshire MARAC by representing their views during the meeting
Confidentiality
All information shared and discussed at the MARAC meetings is confidential. Every organisation who attends these multi agency conferences must sign the confidentiality agreement before the meeting begins.
The MARAC will respect the victim’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Any information resulting from the meeting will be kept secure and not shared with the perpetrator.
Any decision to disclose information at the MARAC must be necessary, justified and proportionate to risks identified.
How can I refer cases to a MARAC?
Any agency can refer a case to MARAC if they have assessed a client as high risk. The referral should take place as soon as possible.
Once a referral to MARAC is received by the Coordinator, an automatic referral to The Blue Door specialist domestic abuse support service is made. Once The Blue Door Service Manager is aware that a new referral has been received, an IDVA will be allocated to the case and contact with the victim will be sought within the next 48 hours.
When agencies make a referral into MARAC they MUST also consider any children that are involved with the case (victim, perpetrator or listed children), and either share information with the Single Access Point at Children’s Services on 01724 297000 or make an immediate referral in.
SafeLives also have some useful toolkits designed to help various agencies who sit on MARAC.
Training
Training for professionals is available through the Children’s Multi-Agency Resilience and Safeguarding Board (CMARS) and The Blue Door, or in-house for your agency by contacting the MARAC Coordinator.
For training on domestic abuse, risk assessments and impact on children visit the CMARS website.
Local services
- Childline 0800 11 11
- Safeguarding Adults Board
- Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire 03444 111 444
- North Lincolnshire Women’s Refuge 01724 289299
- Housing Advice Team 01724 297000
- Humberside Police (Non Emergency) 101
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 hr) 0808 2000 247
- NHS Direct 0845 4647
- Samaritans 01724 860000
- Substance Misuse 24 Hour Helpline 0808 143 0640
- The Blue Door, Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire – Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support, Freephone 0800 197 47 87
- Victim Support 0300 303 1971
- Safeguarding Adults Board
Contact details
marac@northlincs.gov.uk
marac@northlincs.gcsx.gov.uk
Other sites of interest
Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) were established on a statutory basis under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. It came into force on 13 April 2011.
Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are responsible for undertaking DHRs where the death of a person aged 16 or over has (or appears to have) resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by:
- a relative
- household member
- or someone they have been in an intimate relationship with
A review panel, led by an Independent Chair and consisting of representatives from statutory and voluntary agencies is commissioned to undertake the DHR. The panel reviews each agency’s involvement in the case and makes recommendations to improve responses in the future. The panel will also consider information from the victim’s family, friends and work colleagues.
DHRs are not enquiries into how someone died, or who is to blame – nor do they form part of a disciplinary process. They do not replace (but are in addition to) an inquest and any other form of enquiry into a homicide.
The purpose of DHRs is to consider the circumstances that led to the death and to identify where responses to the situation could be improved in the future. Lessons learned from the reviews will help agencies to improve their response to domestic abuse – and to work better together to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The Community Safety Partnership has a local DHR Policy and Procedure for undertaking DHRs in North Lincolnshire [PDF, 591Kb].
Please visit our community grants and funding page.