Anti-Social Behaviour, Hate Crime and Cuckooing

In this guide

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their home and community.

The Council’s Community Safety Team works with residents and partner organisations to prevent and respond to anti-social behaviour (ASB), hate crime, cuckooing and other community safety concerns across Kensington and Chelsea.

y safety problems cannot be resolved by one organisation working alone. Our role is to coordinate, problem solve and bring the right organisations together where concerns are complex, persistent, involve vulnerability or affect a wider community.

We:

  • receive and assess reports of ASB, hate crime and suspected cuckooing
  • coordinate responses to complex cases where more than one agency is involved
  • manage the Council’s multi-agency Cuckooing, ASB and Hate Crime Panel
  • coordinate problem-solving plans for ASB and crime hotspot locations
  • work with Police, housing, safeguarding, health and other services
  • support victims and vulnerable residents
  • identify appropriate prevention, support, safeguarding and enforcement options
  • coordinate the statutory ASB Case Review process

The Community Safety Team does not replace the Police, housing providers or other specialist Council services. We work alongside these services and help coordinate responses where problems require more than one agency.

Anti-social behaviour

What anti-social behaviour is

Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of behaviour which can cause harassment, alarm or distress, or have a significant negative impact on people and communities.

Examples can include:

  • persistent threatening or intimidating behaviour
  • verbal abuse and harassment
  • drug-related activity
  • persistent noise nuisance
  • vandalism and criminal damage
  • aggressive or rowdy behaviour
  • alcohol-related disorder
  • misuse of communal areas
  • persistent nuisance associated with a property
  • behaviour connected with exploitation or cuckooing

Not everything that causes annoyance or inconvenience will be anti-social behaviour.

Everyday living noise, children playing, people gathering peacefully, cooking smells, occasional parties and ordinary differences between neighbours would not normally be considered ASB unless the circumstances or behaviour cause a more serious or persistent impact.

What you should do if you are experiencing ASB?

Keep a record where possible of:

  • dates and times
  • what happened
  • where it happened
  • who was involved, if known
  • how it affected you
  • Police, Council or housing reference numbers
  • photographs, videos or other evidence where it is safe and lawful to obtain it

You do not need to wait until you have collected evidence before reporting a serious concern.
Never put yourself at risk to obtain evidence or confront somebody involved.

Hate crime and hate incidents

What hate crime is

A hate crime is a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or another person to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on:

  • race or ethnicity
  • religion or belief
  • sexual orientation
  • disability
  • transgender identity

A hate incident is behaviour perceived to be motivated by hostility or prejudice against one of these characteristics but which may not amount to a criminal offence

Examples can include:

  • verbal abuse or threats
  • harassment or intimidation
  • physical assault
  • criminal damage
  • offensive graffiti
  • threatening letters or messages
  • online abuse
  • deliberately targeting somebody because of who they are, or who somebody believes them to be

You do not have to determine whether something legally amounts to a hate crime before reporting it.

If you believe a crime has been committed, it should be reported to the Police.

True Vision – report hate crime to the Police

True Vision is the national Police hate crime reporting website. It provides information about hate crime and allows you to report hate crime online to the Police.

You can report incidents involving hostility or prejudice relating to race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

Report hate crime online: True Vision

If there is an immediate danger or a crime is taking place now, call 999. For non-emergency Police matters, call 101.

Stop Hate UK

Stop Hate UK is an independent organisation supporting people affected by hate crime and discrimination.

It provides information, advice and confidential support. Some of its reporting and helpline services are commissioned in specific areas, so residents should check the website to see which services are available in their area.

  • Stop Hate Line: 0800 138 1625
  • Text: 07717 989 025

Stop Hate UK also provides accessible reporting options, including Relay UK and a BSL interpreter service.

The Community Safety Team can also help coordinate support and multi-agency intervention where appropriate.

Cuckooing 

What cuckooing is

Cuckooing, happens when somebody takes control of another person’s home and uses it for criminal activity.

People may be targeted because perpetrators believe they can exploit, manipulate, intimidate or control them.

Cuckooing can be connected with:

  • drug dealing
  • storing drugs, money or weapons
  • organised crime
  • financial exploitation
  • sexual exploitation
  • other criminal activity

The person living at the property may be frightened, threatened, manipulated or dependent on the people exploiting them and may find it very difficult to ask for help.

Our response therefore considers the resident as a potential victim of exploitation and safeguarding concern, while also addressing the crime and anti-social behaviour that may be affecting neighbours and the wider community.

Signs of possible cuckooing

Possible indicators include:

  • unfamiliar people regularly entering and leaving a property
  • increased visitors at unusual hours
  • people loitering around the address
  • drug activity
  • increased ASB around the property
  • the resident appearing frightened, withdrawn or uncomfortable around visitors
  • another person appearing to control access to the property
  • the resident no longer appearing to have control over who enters their home
  • threats or intimidation
  • damage to doors, windows or the property
  • a sudden change in the resident’s behaviour or circumstances

One indicator alone does not necessarily mean that cuckooing is occurring.

If you are concerned, report what you have seen rather than trying to investigate the situation yourself.

How Community Safety responds

When a community safety problem requires our involvement, we will consider the problem, its impact, risk and vulnerability.

Depending on the circumstances, our response can include:

  • speaking with the person affected
  • assessing risk and vulnerability
  • identifying which organisations need to be involved
  • coordinating a multi-agency response
  • making or supporting safeguarding referrals
  • identifying support for victims
  • developing a problem-solving plan
  • considering prevention and early intervention
  • considering disruption and enforcement options
  • monitoring risk and agreed actions

Not every report will result in enforcement action. Different organisations have different legal powers and responsibilities, and interventions must be reasonable, evidence-based and proportionate.

Cuckooing, ASB and Hate Crime Panel

Some cases cannot be resolved by one organisation.

The Community Safety Team manages the Council’s Cuckooing, ASB and Hate Crime Panel, providing a structured multi-agency response to complex cases involving risk, vulnerability, persistent ASB, exploitation or hate crime.

Partners can include Community Safety, Metropolitan Police, housing providers, Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, health and mental health services, drug and alcohol services, victim support organisations and other specialist agencies.

The panel can:

  • assess risk and vulnerability
  • share relevant information
  • understand what interventions have already been tried
  • identify gaps in the response
  • agree actions and responsible agencies
  • coordinate support for victims
  • consider disruption and enforcement options
  • review progress and changes in risk
  • develop longer-term plans where there is a risk of the problem returning

Cases may remain under multi-agency review where longer-term risk management, housing or safeguarding arrangements are required.

Tackling ASB and crime hotspots

Sometimes a community safety problem affects a whole location rather than one individual household.

A street, estate, park, town centre or other public space may experience repeated ASB, crime, drug activity or environmental problems.

The Community Safety Team coordinates multi-agency problem-solving plans for hotspot locations.
This can bring together Community Safety, Police, Street Enforcement, housing providers, CCTV, environmental services, outreach services, businesses and other partners.

We use reports, intelligence and community feedback to understand:

  • what is happening
  • where and when it is happening
  • who is being affected
  • what may be driving the problem
  • what interventions have already been tried
  • what further action could reduce the problem

Actions can include targeted Police or Council patrols, Street Enforcement activity, enforcement against persistent individuals, outreach and support, work with businesses and landlords, environmental improvements, CCTV, safeguarding interventions and engagement with residents.

We monitor reports and incidents to understand whether interventions are working.

Resident experience is also important. A reduction in recorded incidents does not necessarily mean that people feel safer, so community feedback can also form part of our assessment.

Reporting ASB, hate crime and cuckooing

It is important that incidents are reported to the service best placed to respond.

Reports help the Council and its partners understand what is happening, where and when problems are occurring, who is being affected and whether particular locations or individuals are causing repeated concerns.

Please continue to report incidents even where you believe the Council or Police are already aware of problems in your area.

Community Safety Team

Contact the Community Safety Team for:

  • persistent or serious ASB
  • hate crime or hate incidents
  • suspected cuckooing or exploitation
  • repeat victimisation
  • persistent ASB or crime affecting a location
  • complex cases involving several organisations
  • concerns involving vulnerability
  • community safety problems requiring a coordinated multi-agency response

Important – you may also need to report the incident to your landlord and/or the Police
Reporting a concern to the Community Safety Team does not replace reporting it to the organisation responsible for investigating or taking action.

If the ASB is connected to a property you rent, you must also report it to your landlord. This includes:

  • RBKC Council housing tenants
  • tenants of a housing association or other registered social landlord
  • private rented tenants

Your landlord has responsibility for investigating housing and tenancy-related ASB and may have powers to take action in relation to the property, tenancy or behaviour of their tenants.

If a criminal offence has taken place, or you suspect that criminal activity is taking place, you must also report this to the Police.

This includes concerns such as:

  • violence or threats of violence
  • harassment or intimidation
  • assault
  • drug dealing or suspected drug-related activity
  • criminal damage
  • theft or robbery
  • hate crime
  • exploitation
  • suspected criminal activity connected with cuckooing

For non-emergency crime, call 101 or report online to the Metropolitan Police.

If somebody is in immediate danger, violence is taking place or being threatened, or a crime is happening now, call 999.

You can still report the matter to Community Safety where a coordinated response is needed.

Reports to landlords and the Police are particularly important because they enable those agencies to use their own investigative, housing and enforcement powers and provide information that can support a wider multi-agency response.

Contact Community Safety

When reporting a concern, please provide as much information as possible, including:

  • your name and contact details
  • where the problem is happening
  • what has happened
  • dates and times
  • how frequently it is happening
  • who is involved, if known
  • the impact on you or the wider community
  • any concerns about risk or vulnerability
  • whether you have reported the matter to your landlord, Police or another service
  • any Police, Council, housing or other reference numbers you have

What happens when you report to Community Safety

The Community Safety Team will assess the information provided, consider any risks or vulnerabilities and identify the most appropriate response.

Our role is often to coordinate and support a multi-agency response rather than replace the work of the agency with the primary responsibility or legal powers to deal with the issue.

Depending on the circumstances, we may need to involve or notify:

  • Metropolitan Police
  • your Council, housing association or private landlord
  • Street Enforcement Team
  • Noise and Nuisance Team
  • Adult Social Care
  • Children's Services
  • health or mental health services
  • drug and alcohol services
  • victim support or other specialist organisations

Where several organisations need to be involved, Community Safety can bring partners together, coordinate the response, clarify responsibilities and help develop an appropriate problem-solving plan.

Complex cases involving significant risk, vulnerability, cuckooing, persistent ASB or hate crime may also be considered through the Council's Cuckooing, ASB and Hate Crime Panel.

In summary:

  • Housing or tenancy-related ASB → report to your landlord AND Community Safety where a coordinated response is required.
  • Crime or suspected criminal activity → report to the Police AND Community Safety where a coordinated response is required.
  • Immediate danger or a crime happening now → call 999

Metropolitan Police

Report behaviour to the Police where you believe a crime has been committed.

This includes:

  • violence or threats of violence
  • assault
  • harassment or intimidation
  • drug dealing
  • robbery or theft
  • criminal damage
  • hate crime
  • exploitation
  • criminal activity connected with cuckooing

In an emergency

  • Call 999 if somebody is in immediate danger, violence is taking place or being threatened, or a crime is taking place now.
  • For non-emergency Police matters, call 101 or report online through the Metropolitan Police website.
  • Never put yourself at risk to collect evidence or confront somebody involved in ASB, crime or suspected exploitation

Find your local Safer Neighbourhood Team

Every area of Kensington and Chelsea has a local Metropolitan Police Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT).

Safer Neighbourhood Teams work with residents, businesses and local partners to address neighbourhood crime and community safety priorities.

You can find your local team through the Metropolitan Police website by entering your postcode.
Your local neighbourhood page provides information about:

  • your local Police team
  • neighbourhood priorities
  • local meetings and events
  • contact information
  • Police activity in your area

Your area

Your local SNT should not be used instead of 999 for emergencies or the normal Police reporting routes for crimes requiring a Police response.

Victim Support

Victim Support provides free and independent support to people affected by crime, whether or not the crime has been reported to the Police.

They can provide emotional and practical support and help you understand your options following a hate crime or hate incident.

Victim Support Supportline: 08081 689 111

Street Enforcement Team

RBKC’s Street Enforcement Team (SET) deals with a range of anti-social behaviour and environmental offences occurring in streets and public spaces.

This can include:

  • street-based ASB
  • breaches of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs)
  • street drinking where restrictions apply
  • begging and associated ASB
  • littering
  • fly-tipping
  • waste offences
  • obstruction
  • other environmental offences where Council enforcement powers apply

SET works closely with Community Safety and the Police at locations experiencing persistent problems.

Contact Street Enforcement

Noise and Nuisance Team

RBKC’s Noise and Nuisance Team is the specialist service for investigating many types of noise and statutory nuisance.

This can include:

  • loud music
  • parties
  • alarms
  • construction noise
  • commercial premises noise
  • machinery or equipment
  • other unreasonable noise affecting your home

Residents should report noise incidents when they are happening wherever possible. This helps the service assess the problem and creates a record of repeated incidents.

Where noise forms part of wider harassment, intimidation or persistent ASB, the Noise and Nuisance Team may work alongside Community Safety, Police and housing providers.

Report noise and nuisance

Housing providers

If you live in social housing, report housing-related ASB to your Council housing service or housing association.

Housing providers have powers and responsibilities for managing behaviour connected with their homes, estates and tenancies.

Depending on the circumstances, interventions can include:

  • warnings
  • support
  • tenancy action
  • security measures
  • injunctions
  • possession proceedings in serious cases

Community Safety can work with housing providers where cases involve wider community safety concerns, significant risk or require a multi-agency response.

Adult safeguarding

Where an adult may be experiencing abuse, exploitation, coercion, neglect or other serious risks, Adult Social Care may need to be notified.

This can be particularly important in cuckooing cases.

Safeguarding concerns can include:

  • cuckooing 
  • financial exploitation
  • coercion or intimidation
  • physical or sexual abuse
  • neglect
  • exploitation by people using somebody’s home
  • concerns that an adult is unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect

If somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.

Not sure who to report to

You do not need to understand how every Council, Police or housing service works before asking for help.

If you are unsure and your concern relates to ASB, hate crime, cuckooing or a wider community safety problem, contact the Community Safety Team.

We can assess the information and help identify which organisations need to be involved.
However, contacting Community Safety does not replace:

  • calling 999 in an emergency
  • reporting a crime to the Police
  • reporting noise to the Noise and Nuisance Team
  • reporting housing-related ASB to your landlord
  • making an urgent safeguarding referral

Where appropriate and lawful, information may be shared with relevant agencies so that risks can be assessed and the appropriate response coordinated.

ASB Case Review

What is an ASB Case Review

An Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review, previously known as the Community Trigger, gives victims of persistent anti-social behaviour the right to request a multi-agency review of their case when the qualifying threshold has been met.

It is intended for situations where ASB has repeatedly been reported but the person affected believes the problem has not been adequately resolved.

An ASB Case Review is not simply another investigation of the original incident.

It looks at how agencies have responded collectively, whether appropriate actions have been taken and whether anything further could reasonably and proportionately be done.

The Community Safety Team coordinates the ASB Case Review process in Kensington and Chelsea.

When you can request an ASB Case Review

You can request an ASB Case Review where you have:

reported three separate incidents of anti-social behaviour within the last six months to the Council, Police and/or a registered housing provider, with the most recent incident occurring within the last month.

The reports can have been made to different organisations.

For example, you may have reported one incident to the Police, one to your housing provider and another to the Council.

A victim can request the review themselves or another person can make the request on their behalf with their consent, such as a family member, advocate, councillor, support worker or other representative.

What information should you provide

Please provide as much information as possible, including:

  • your name and contact details
  • the address or location affected
  • what ASB you have experienced
  • dates of incidents
  • which organisations you reported them to
  • dates the reports were made
  • incident, crime or case reference numbers where available
  • what action has already been taken
  • why you believe the problem remains unresolved
  • the impact the ASB is having on you
  • any vulnerability, risk or safeguarding concerns

Do not worry if you do not have every reference number. Provide as much information as you can so that we can identify your previous reports.

What happens after you request a review

The Community Safety Team will consider the application and establish whether the ASB Case Review threshold has been met.

We may contact the organisations you previously reported incidents to so that the reports can be verified.

If the threshold is met

A multi-agency review will be arranged.

Relevant agencies will be asked to provide information about:

  • incidents reported
  • assessments of risk
  • contact with the victim
  • investigations undertaken
  • support offered
  • actions and interventions already attempted
  • enforcement considered or undertaken
  • the current situation

The review considers the case as a whole rather than looking at each organisation’s involvement in isolation.

It will consider whether the response has been appropriate and whether additional reasonable and proportionate actions are available.

Where further action is identified, an action plan will be agreed with clear responsibilities for the relevant agencies.

You will be informed of the outcome and any recommendations arising from the review.

If the threshold is not met

We will tell you that the application has not met the threshold.

This does not mean your concerns are unimportant or that no further action can be considered.

Where appropriate, information may still be passed to the relevant service or agency to consider whether further support or intervention is required.

What an ASB Case Review is not

An ASB Case Review is not a replacement for reporting ASB when it happens.

Continue reporting new incidents to the Police, Council, housing provider or other appropriate organisation.

It is also different from an organisation’s complaints procedure.

If your concern is specifically about the standard of service you received from an organisation or an individual member of staff, you may need to use that organisation’s complaints process.

An ASB Case Review looks specifically at the multi-agency response to persistent anti-social behaviour and whether further action can reasonably be taken to address it.

Request an ASB Case Review

There are three ways to request an ASB Case Review.

Online

Complete the Council’s ASB Case Review online form.

Telephone

Tell the adviser that you would like to request an ASB Case Review (Community Trigger).

Email

When emailing, please make clear that you are requesting an ASB Case Review and provide details of the incidents you have previously reported and, where possible, the relevant reference numbers.

What you can expect from the Community Safety Team

When you contact us about a community safety concern, our approach is to:

  • Assess: understand the concern, its impact, risk and vulnerability
  • Coordinate: bring the appropriate agencies together where a multi-agency response is required
  • Problem solve: look beyond individual incidents to understand why a problem is continuing and identify opportunities to reduce it
  • Support: consider the needs of victims and vulnerable residents and connect people with appropriate services
  • Respond proportionately: consider prevention, support, disruption and enforcement based on the circumstances, evidence and available legal powers
  • Review: monitor complex cases and hotspot locations where ongoing coordination is required

Our role is to help ensure that the right agencies are involved, risks are understood, responsibilities are clear and opportunities to protect residents and reduce harm are acted upon.

Last updated: 10 November 2026