It is our vision to provide homes and build communities that residents are proud to live in, with better support to sustain a successful tenancy and manage life changes.
This policy explains how we work with residents, the police, local authorities and other agencies to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB), support those affected, and help create safe, inclusive communities.
Our community safety policy applies to everyone living in a home owned or managed by West Kent, including residents in general needs housing, supported housing, older persons' accommodation, shared ownership homes and leasehold properties.
Here's what you need to know
What is community safety?
Community safety is about helping residents feel safe in their homes and neighbourhoods. It includes how we prevent and respond to anti-social behaviour, nuisance, harassment, intimidation, criminal activity and other issues that can affect people's wellbeing.
Our responsibilities
We will:
Listen to and assess reports of ASB and community safety concerns.
Respond within clear timescales based on the level of risk.
Support residents who are affected by ASB or criminal behaviour.
Work with the police, local authorities and other agencies where needed.
Take appropriate action to prevent or stop behaviour that breaches tenancy conditions.
Keep residents informed about the progress of their case.
Your responsibilities
We ask residents to:
Treat neighbours, visitors and the wider community with respect.
Report ASB, criminal behaviour or safety concerns as soon as possible.
Report crimes and emergencies directly to the police.
Work with us by providing information and evidence where appropriate.
Try to resolve minor neighbour disagreements themselves where it is safe and reasonable to do so.
What we don’t tolerate
We take the following behaviours seriously and may take enforcement action where appropriate:
Harassment, intimidation, threats or violence.
Hate crime and discriminatory behaviour.
Drug-related activity and other criminal behaviour.
Persistent noise nuisance or disruptive behaviour.
Damage to property, vandalism and other serious breaches of tenancy.
How we support you
We will:
Offer advice and support throughout your case.
Consider any vulnerabilities or support needs you may have.
Work with specialist services where additional support is required.
Use a range of approaches to resolve issues, from early intervention and mediation through to legal action where necessary.
Keep information confidential wherever possible.
If you’re at risk
If you feel unsafe, are experiencing harassment, threats, violence, or any other serious community safety issue, contact us as soon as possible.
In an emergency, or if a crime is in progress, call the police on 999.
We'll take concerns seriously, prioritise safety, and work with you and partner agencies to identify the most appropriate support and action.