Your weekly update from G&B…
In this week’s edition:
- Responding Fairly to Complaints workshop with the Housing Diversity Network
- Open access courses for 2026 and why confident judgement matters more than ever
- ASB case study: hotspot policing and partnership working in Cornwall
- The weekly round up
Responding fairly to complaints: online workshop with the Housing Diversity Network
We are pleased to be delivering an upcoming online workshop with the Housing Diversity Network on Responding Fairly to Complaints, taking place on 11 March.
Equality considerations are now central to Housing Ombudsman findings, and how complaints are handled from the outset matters more than ever. This session explores complaints through the lens of customer service, housing management, ASB investigations and regulatory compliance, with a particular focus on how minority groups experience and report complaints.
The workshop will be facilitated by partner Darren Burton, and will look at practical, proportionate approaches that stand up to scrutiny while building trust and confidence.
👉 Find out more and register here:
https://housingdiversitynetwork.glueup.com/event/hdn-worksho…
Open access courses for Q1 2026
One thing we are hearing consistently is that people are not short of policy, but they are short of time and space to build confidence in judgement, thresholds and case progression. That is exactly what our Q1 2026 open access programme is designed to support.
The courses focus on practical application, defensible decision making and the realities of frontline ASB and community safety work, particularly where cases are complex or likely to be challenged.
Applying Judge Craft
Good judgement sits at the heart of effective ASB work. This course, led by partner Janine Green, explores how professional judgement is formed, what influences decision making under pressure, and how to apply it consistently in cases that require clear reasoning and justification.
Level 2 ASB Case Management Principles (Level 2 accredited)
This course supports officers to make confident, timely and defensible decisions across the full ASB case management journey, from assessing initial reports and risk, through investigation and action planning, to monitoring outcomes and closing cases appropriately.
Introduction to the ASB Toolkit
A practical overview of the tools and powers available to tackle anti-social behaviour, focusing on proportionate use, early intervention and building cases that stand up to scrutiny.
Effective Case Management Principles
This session looks at how strong case management underpins successful outcomes, covering structure, recording, decision making and progression from early intervention through to enforcement.
ASB case study: hotspot policing and what it looks like in practice
This week’s case comes from Cornwall, where neighbourhood policing teams have been using a hotspot policing model to tackle persistent anti social behaviour across multiple towns including Truro, Camborne and Helston.
Targeted patrols have been informed by community reports and local intelligence, rather than blanket enforcement. Since the scheme began in 2024, more than 45,000 additional patrol hours have been delivered across Devon and Cornwall.
Recent action in Camborne included a closure order on a business identified as a hotspot for violence and ASB. In Truro, police responded to ongoing concerns around dangerous driving, nuisance vehicles and antisocial use of motorcycles. Elsewhere, activity has been driven directly by community feedback.
What stands out is the range of tools being used alongside visibility policing. Closure orders, PSPOs and preventative education in schools have been combined, recognising that not every intervention needs to result in a criminal charge.
Key learning points for ASB practitioners:
Hotspot policing works best when it is intelligence led and locally informed, not just about increasing patrols
Enforcement tools remain powerful when used proportionately and at the right threshold
Community reporting is central to directing resources and building confidence
Long term impact relies on partnership working across agencies
Prevention and early intervention still matter alongside enforcement
This case is a reminder that effective ASB responses are rarely about a single measure. Sustainable outcomes come from targeted activity, partnership working and preventative action used together.
Weekly round up
A common theme runs through everything we have shared this week. Good ASB outcomes depend less on having more powers and more on how well judgement is applied in practice.
Whether it is responding fairly to complaints, using hotspot policing intelligently, or managing complex cases under scrutiny, the quality of decision making matters. Proportionality, clear reasoning and an understanding of local context are what allow practitioners to act confidently and defensibly.
The Cornwall hotspot policing example is a good reminder that visibility alone is not the answer. Targeted activity, community intelligence, partnership working and prevention all have a role to play when used together rather than in isolation.
As organisations continue planning for the year ahead, many are taking stock of skills, confidence and service design. Training, reflection and independent challenge all support better outcomes for practitioners, services and communities.
If you would like to talk through training, consultancy or support for your ASB service in 2026, we are always happy to have an informal conversation about how we can help.
Have a great week,
Darren & Janine