Community Trigger

Victims of anti-social behaviour (ASB) can use the Community Trigger to request a review of their case. Agencies, including councils, police, local health teams and registered providers of social housing will have a duty to undertake a review of how they have dealt with a case when the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome and the case meets our locally defined threshold.

The Community Trigger can be used by any victim of anti-social behaviour or by any person acting on their behalf, for example a family member, friend, carer, councillor, MP or other professional person. This is intended to ensure that all victims are able to use the Community Trigger. However, the victim’s consent should be sought by the person using the Community Trigger on their behalf.

The Community Trigger should not be used to complain about a single organisation. If your complaint is about an individual organisation you are advised to follow their complaints procedure.

Can I use the Community Trigger?

To meet the requirements of the Community Trigger threshold, one of the following criteria must be met:

If you (as an individual) have complained to West Lancashire Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary and/or a Registered Housing Provider (Social Landlord) 3 times in the last 6 months about the same problem and you feel that you have been ignored.
If 5 individuals in the local community have complained separately to West Lancashire Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary and/or a Registered Housing Provider (Social Landlord) in the last 6 months about the same or similar incidents and they feel that they have been ignored.
If you (as an individual) have complained to West Lancashire Borough Council, Lancashire Constabulary and/or a Registered Housing Provider (Social Landlord) once in the last 6 months about an incident motivated by hate and you feel that you have been ignored.

How to apply

To make an application, send your name, address and brief details about the issue to us:

Email: communitytrigger@westlancs.gov.uk

Or write to:

The Environmental Protection and Community Safety Manager Robert Hodge Centre Stanley Way Skelmersdale West Lancashire WN8 8EE

Find more information on how to contact the team

What happens next?

We will send you a form to complete. You will need to provide more details of your complaints and where applicable, the consent of the anti-social behaviour victim, to prove that we can discuss the case with you. When we receive the completed form we will then progress your application.

Download Community Trigger Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 20.2KB) for further information.