Antisocial behaviour can be a slippery term: on the estate I live on in London, one friend remarked how heartening it was to see children playing in the courtyard after school and neighbours sitting outside their doors enjoying the sunshine with a beer. But a former flatmate interpreted this as people “hanging around menacingly”.
Different people view behaviour through different prisms. For some people, “no ball games” signs are a godsend and essential for the safety of their windows; others see them as evidence of a community broken down – no more than a series of insular homes unhappily cemented together.
It falls to housing staff to help prevent neighbourly disputes escalating. James Wall, community safety operations manager at West Midlands housing association WHG, says his organisation focuses on the problem, rather than labelling those involved.
“If people are told they are victims or perpetrators, they tend to act like it,” he points out. Focusing on stopping the behaviour, rather than assigning blame to individuals is key to actually achieving a good outcome, he adds. “Tenants who are encouraged to work with us to fix the problem often feel empowered as a result.”
Although any incident with a defined victim and/or perpetrator is dealt with robustly, these cases are relatively rare. “Less than 10% of our antisocial behaviour cases result in any form of enforcement action,” says Wall.
Although the tenants who report antisocial behaviour may expect eviction to be the first step, mediation is not only easier but also more beneficial for the community as a whole in the long run.
Design and architecture is also important, argues architecture writer Owen Hatherley, who believes that features like blind corners without natural surveillance are probably a hostage to fortune. “The most important thing is maintenance,” he adds. If something is well-tended, it is likely to be treated well.
Simple steps to help people feel more connected to their community, coupled with maintenance, so people love their homes and want to keep their area beautiful, are key to happy neighbourhoods.
Eviction should be the last resort. Far better to focus on prevention, good design and long-term care of the immediate environment.
