Crime and anti-social behaviour

Our anti-social policy and procedure outlines how the Council deals with anti-social behaviour, and the tools and powers available to Council Officers.

• Anti-social Policy and Procedure ( pdf - 293.95 KB )

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) deals with a particular nuisance or problem in a specific area that is detrimental to the local community's quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area, which apply to everyone. It is designed to ensure that the law-abiding majority can use and enjoy public spaces, safe from anti-social behaviour. A PSPO already exists in St Albans city centre and Harpenden preventing the consumption of alcohol in public spaces. The order applies to all public areas within the bounds of the order. The existing order expires in October 2020 and after consultation with key stakeholders a new order has been agreed. The new PSPO covers a slightly larger area in St Albans and is reduced in Harpenden. The order will be in force 24hrs a day. Maps are available showing the areas which are now covered by the order.

The Responsible Drinking Zones in St Albans and Harpenden are clearly marked by signs and the new order will be effective until October 2023. The PSPO makes it an offence to fail to cease the consumption of alcohol within the prescribed area when asked to do so by a police officer, police community support officer or other accredited officer. The order also makes it an offence to fail to surrender any container of alcohol when requested to do so by a police officer, police community support officer or other accredited officer. Failure to comply with either request can lead to the issuing of a notice for disorder or court summons and a maximum fine of £500.

Please see the below links:  

the Public Spaces Protection Order Report;

the map of the Public Spaces Protection Order in St Albans;

the map of the Public Spaces Protection Order in Harpenden.

The Community Protection Team based at the Civic Centre deals with serious anti-social behaviour of the type listed below:

• Drug dealing
• Responding to Police and other intelligence
• Serious and organised criminal activity
• Violence and threats of violence
• Anti-social vehicle use
• Disorder affecting several households

We understand that reporting incidents can make witnesses feel nervous about the next steps, however the Council has a successful track record in resolving cases. If you are experiencing problems contact us to discuss how we can help you and what the next steps could be.

Contact the team: communityprotection@stalbans.gov.uk, 01727 819538. 

(For other types of anti-social behaviour, such as parking, bins, noise, etc, please log into your MyStAlbans District Account to tell the Council about it, or email contactus@stalbans.gov.uk.

In an emergency always dial 999

An emergency is when there is a risk of injury to someone or a risk of serious damage to property or you suspect a crime is in progress or there is a serious incident which needs immediate police attendance.

If it is not an emergency you can contact Hertfordshire Constabulary by dialling 101.

Find out how to contact your local police officers and learn about policing priorities and crime statistics in your neighbourhood. 

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 requires certain agencies to work together to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.  Locally, the following agencies work together as part of St Albans City and District Community Safety Partnership: 

• St Albans City and District Council
• Hertfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner
• Hertfordshire Constabulary
• Hertfordshire County Council
• Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Hertfordshire Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group
• Hertfordshire Services for Young People
• Hertfordshire Probation Trust
• BeNCH Community Rehabilitation Company
• Various local voluntary organisations

Community Safety Partnership Strategy Consultation 2024-2027

The Community Safety Partnership regularly produces a Strategy that covers how it plans to tackle crime and disorder, in accordance with priorities and emerging issues. 

We would like your views on this draft Strategy and the priorities identified. We have produced a survey to capture feedback from our community. This survey also looks at your views on crime more generally and will support the development of our action plans and front line work. 

The 3 key priorities for the coming year are:

Protecting communities and making them feel safe.

Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

Responding to emerging issues effectively and proportionately.

Please read the draft strategy before answering the questions in the survey.

The survey is available at www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CSP2427/

The draft strategy for 2024-27 can be seen at the link below. 

The consultation closes on 31 March 2024.

Thank you for your help with this important work.
 

• Community Safety Partnership Draft Strategy 2024-2027 ( docx - 68.16 KB )

Family Lives is a national charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life including children’s behaviour, separation and divorce, exclusion, bullying, schoolwork, truancy, special needs, learning difficulties, conflict, depression, suicidal feelings, anxiety, bereavement and stress.  

They have a 24 hour helpline - 0808 800 2222

Hertfordshire Beacon offers confidential support to people who have been victims of crime – it is your gateway to victim services in Hertfordshire.

A Community Trigger is a review of actions taken that allows for anyone to ask for a case to be reviewed if a certain threshold is met. The local threshold is met if three reports about separate incidents are made from an individual within a 6-month period or three individuals have separately reported incidents within a 6-month period.
We also consider requests for a review in the light of:

• The persistence of the behaviour.
• The harm or potential for harm.
• The adequacy of the response.

The review is undertaken by Officers of the Council, Police and Housing Associations when relevant.

If you would like to request that the Community Trigger is used please contact the Community Protection Team via email: communitysafety@stalbans.gov.uk

Community Trigger Process Flowchart:

• Community Trigger Flowchart ( pdf - 13.12 KB )

How we prioritise

The Public Space CCTV provision in St Albans District is operated with community safety as the top priority. This means that public safety, such as finding a missing child will always take priority over providing footage of a shoplifter. 

The system is not routinely used for highways or parking enforcement purposes.

Types of camera and retention of footage

Currently the Council operates cameras at 99 locations around the District. 

These cameras consist of systems that are connected to our CCTV control room and systems that record to site only.

Cameras that are monitored by the Council's CCTV control room allow live monitoring every day throughout the year. Footage from these cameras is retained for up to 28 days.
 
The "record on site" cameras are not connected to the CCTV control room; instead they record to a hard drive that is located with the cameras, with footage obtained manually. Footage from these cameras is retained for up to 14 days.

The Council also has 3 re-deployable CCTV systems that are temporarily deployed in areas that are hotspots for anti-social behaviour and crime. The decision as to where these cameras used is made in conjunction with the Police.

Access to CCTV footage

Access to CCTV footage is governed by the Data Protection Act 1998. 

CCTV footage of an individual is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act provisions. You are entitled to view footage of yourself only (not that of another person) through a Subject Access Request. 

The Council will charge £10 to assist with the cost of providing footage, which will be made available within 40 days. 

We will need the date, time and description of the incident, and proof of identification. 
If you are the victim of crime, any possible CCTV footage will be provided to the Police Officer investigating the case. 

If you have had a Road Traffic Collision, your insurance company will need to contact the Council to obtain footage of the incident. The Council charges £100 to insurance companies to assist with the cost of downloading and producing this footage. Footage will not be viewed or downloaded until this fee is paid. 

It is not possible for you to view yourself or for us to view the footage just to see if any incident has been captured.

We are happy to confirm if a camera is in the vicinity. However, the incident should be reported to the Police or insurance company immediately to ensure that the footage is requested within the timescales for retention, as detailed above.

Make a Subject Access Request for CCTV footage:

• CCTV Annual Report 2019-20 ( pdf - 2.14 MB )
• CCTV Code of Practice 2021 ( pdf - 472.54 KB )

Contact the National Benefit Fraud Hotline on 0800 854 440 (the call is free and confidential).

You can also email us: fraud@stalbans.gov.uk or phone us on 01727 819332, or write (marking the envelope ‘private and confidential’ to:  

The Internal Audit Manager,
St Albans District Council,
Civic Offices,
St. Peter's Street,
St. Albans
AL1 3JE

All communications will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

• Reporting Fraud leaflet ( pdf - 708.26 KB )
• Transparency Code – Fraud Data ( pdf - 113.57 KB )

This scheme is a special Community Safety Partnership project.   

The scheme helps people to get home safely late at night from local bars, clubs and pubs, and to reduce alcohol related violent incidents in St Albans.

It is funded by Hertfordshire County Council, St Albans District Council, and the St Albans BID.

Dealing with bogus callers

Bogus callers and distraction burglars are people who try to trick or con their way into homes, or bank accounts.  They often pretend to be on official business from respectable concerns such as utility companies or the Council. 

They may also claim to be tradesmen calling to carry out urgent repairs on your property or simply individuals with a plausible reason to enter your house, for example, looking for a lost cat. Bogus letters, email and texts may also be sent. Bogus callers succeed because they sound believable. Always:

• Always use your chain and don’t let anyone in until you are sure they are genuine.
• Ask for proof of identity. If you are still unsure, call the company (but beware the number on ID cards may be false).
• Beware of callers who attempt to distract you and make you leave the house – they may have an accomplice waiting to get in.
• Don’t part with money or possessions at the door.
• You can call the Police non-emergency number on 101 to report suspicious activity. In an emergency call 999.

Council Tax Scams

Beware of scams related to Council Tax. Typically, these involve a message or a phone call telling you that you are entitled to a refund, possibly because (the scammer says) you are in the wrong Council Tax Band, and asking for card or bank details where the refund can be sent.  

The Council will never send out such messages.  We might contact you to remind you that a payment is overdue, but we will normally do this in writing. We won’t telephone or text you to ask for bank details for a refund. 
 

‘Crimestoppers’ is the largest charity fighting crime, helping to tackle criminals and keeping our local communities safe. People can call 24/7 to pass information on about crime in their area. 

Your anonymity is guaranteed. ‘Crimestoppers’ does not record or trace calls or online forms and you will never be asked to make a statement to the police or appear in court.

Fearless is a similar service, focussing on crimes which affect young people such knife, bullying, cyber bullying, sex, drugs and alcohol crimes. 

Human Trafficking is the recruitment or movement of people, by means of threat or use of force, deception or coercion for the purpose of exploitation. 

People are tricked into situations where they are bought, sold, abused, and exploited in many different ways: sexual exploitation, forced labour, street crime, domestic servitude or even the sale of organs and human sacrifice. Men, women and children are trafficked within their own countries and across international borders. Trafficking affects every continent and every country. 

A dedicated police unit coordinates the response to modern slavery in Hertfordshire. 
The number of people identified in Hertfordshire as victims of modern slavery has grown annually, however it is usually a hidden crime so the real numbers could be much higher.

If you have concerns about trafficking or modern slavery, want to get advice or seek help, contact the police on their 101 non-emergency number or call the national helpline 08000 121700. If you believe a person is a victim of modern slavery or is in immediate danger, call 999 straight away.

Stop Exploitation Herts 
StopTheTraffik
 

• St Albans Traffick Watch 1 ( pdf - 48.47 KB )
• St Albans Traffick Watch 2 ( pdf - 44.93 KB )
• St Albans Modern Slavery Statement ( msword - 62.00 KB )

• Childnet - making the internet safer
• Thinkuknow - safe surfing for young people 
• BBC – staying safe on the internet
• NSPCC - online safety 
• Gifted geek - guide for parents

• Herts Constabulary - useful information and advice on home security, personal safety, preventing vehicle theft and much more.  
• Herts Constabulary app - keep you up to date with all the latest police news
• Hertfordshire Home Security Service – free service using the proceeds of crime
• Immobilise – protect your property with the Immobilise Property Register!
• Mobile Device Security – a new service from Herts Constabulary
• Neighbourhood Watch – and other ‘Watch Schemes’
• Herts Watch - representing Neighbourhood Watch throughout Hertfordshire
• Owl – sign up for Hertfordshire Neighbourhood Watch updates

ACT Early -  Information and guidance on preventing radicalisation and terrorism.

You can use the referral form below or call Open Door (who provide help and shelter for homeless people in St Albans District) on 01727 859113 or complete the rough sleeper form.

• Open Door Rough Sleeper Referral Form ( pdf - 186.43 KB )