Warning Letters

Shropshires Anti-Social Behaviour Practitioners Toolkit

Contents

Page No.

What are warning letters?

What information should a warning letter include?

Linking the completion of warning letters to the ISA process for children
and young people

Example warning letter template

Example final warning letter template

What if the warning letter is unsuccessful?

Do and dont

Recording systems

11

What are Warning Letters?

Warning letters are written warnings sent to perpetrators of anti-social behaviour
(ASB) with the aim of deterring them from displaying further ASB. Warnings can be
given by any agency whose role involves tackling ASB. Warning letters are seen as
an effective way to stop the ASB continuing, or escalating, but they have no direct
legal consequences, although they can provide evidence that agencies tried to deter
ASB by a perpetrator at an early stage, should the ASB continue and it is decided to
take more formal enforcement action.

Warning letters, like all ASB interventions, should look to balance respite for the
victims with effective intervention to support the perpetrator in changing their
behaviour.

Warning letters provide an opportunity to divert perpetrators of ASB towards support

services, such as the Youth Inclusion Support Project, which support them in
stopping their ASB.

Warning letters are usually the first tool used to stop people from behaving antisocially and as such are generally used at an early stage with legal enforcement
powers being used at a later stage against the minority of perpetrators who continue
to display ASB.

It is important to consider each case individually and identify which is the most
appropriate and most likely to be effective tool or power to tackle the ASB. In every
case consider if sending a warning letter could make the situation worse; it may be
more appropriate to visit the alleged perpetrator to deliver the letter (and thus
combine a face-to-face visit with the warning) or use another intervention.

Warning letters have proved to be very successful in deterring ASB when used in
Shropshire. The Police have an electronic system, called Collector, which generates
letters on a tiered basis to perpetrators of ASB. Letters progress from a level 0 advice
letter; to a level 1 warning letter, should a person be identified by a police officer as
displaying ASB; to a level 2 warning letter, if that person is again identified as
displaying ASB within six months of receiving a level 1 letter. At level 2, support
2

services are also offered and this letter states that it is a final warning before
enforcement action is considered. Data up to and including 2006 from Collector
shows that 1,690 people received a level 0 advice letter, of these 46% went on to
receive a level 1 letter and of these 5.38% went on to receive an ASBO. This
demonstrates the success of the warning letters issued by the Police, using the
Collector system, in deterring perpetrators from ASB.

The National Audit Office in December 2006 compiled a report for The Home Office
titled Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour. This found that warning letters were most
effective when used with young people. They found 62% of under 18s received no
further interventions. To view a copy of the full report or executive summary visit
www.nao.gov.uk and use the search facility.

This guidance is underpinned by current practice in Shropshire and good practice as

identified on the Respect website (www.respect.gov.uk) and in the Respect guide
Warnings and Agreements: A Guide published in March 2007. It has been
developed as an aid to using warning letters in Shropshire. Should you require any
further advice or guidance please contact:
Kelly Oldham Anti-Social Behaviour Officer
Shropshire Partnership
Shropshire Council
Shirehall
Abbey Foregate
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY2 6ND
Tel: 01743 252737
Email: kelly.oldham@shropshire.gov.uk

What Information should a Warning Letter Include?

Warning letters enable unacceptable behaviour to be challenged immediately and
establish standards of behaviour. They reinforce the message that ASB will not be
tolerated.

Good practice suggests that warning letters should:

Detail the behaviour observed/reported

Inform the perpetrator that their behaviour is ASB and unacceptable and
educate them about the impact of their behaviour on others

Advise that their behaviour may now be monitored, and

Warn that should the ASB continue it may result in enforcement action being
taken against them

As warning letters provide a means of diverting perpetrators to support services they

could also include information or direction to information on services that may be able
to support the perpetrator in changing their behaviour.

Most agencies have a standard warning letter template which can be added
to/amended so that it is tailored to the individual case.

Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) may reflect the terms of the tenancy agreement
and the impact that the ASB may have on it in the warning letter. For example, it
could result in possession of the property if the ASB persists.

Linking the Completion of Warning Letters to the Information Sharing and

Assessment Process for Children and Young People
The ISA process encompasses a range of tools, such as the Common Assessment
Framework (CAF) and Team Around the Child (TAC) meetings. These aim to support
practitioners in identifying vulnerable children and young people in order to support
them in achieving their potential and the Every Child Matters five priority outcomes
(Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution and
Achieve Economic Well-being). The ISA process covers children and young people
aged pre-birth to 18 years old.

If you are completing a warning letter for a child or young person you should ensure
that you refer to the ISA process. By following the ISA process you could let other
agencies know that you have information relevant to the child/young person or are
taking action for this child/young person. This would promote future joined up working
with other agencies working with the same child/young person.

For further information on the ISA process please refer to the ISA Practitioners
Toolkit. A copy can be downloaded from the Shropshire ISA website where you can
also find out more about ISA in Shropshire and book on ISA training:
www.shropshire.gov.uk/isa.nsf

Warning letter template

[Please include agency logos in the header/footer]

[Name of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]
[Address of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]

[Date]
Dear [name of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]
Re: Anti-social behaviour/nuisance
We have received complaints that your [or your childs/visitors] behaviour [is causing
harassment, alarm and/or distress to others] or [is a nuisance and annoyance to
others].
[It is alleged that] or [it was reported that]............... [details of the
allegation/incident] took place on [date] at [time] at [location].
We hope that having received this letter you understand that your behaviour is
causing distress to other people and you will stop such activities in future. We will
continue to monitor the situation and should we receive further complaints we may
consider taking legal action against you [your child], such as applying
for [details of possible action, i.e. ASBO or possession of home, etc.].
If you would like details of services that may be able to support you [your child] or if
you wish to discuss this further with us, please do not hesitate to contact us
on [contact details].
Yours sincerely

Name of person sending

Job Title

NB. Please note that this letter is given as an example should your agency wish to
adopt it. If you already have anti-social behaviour letters it is not a requirement for
you to change them to match this. You need to consider who your audience is and
their literacy level and tailor the letter accordingly.

Final warning letter template

[Please include agency logos in the header/footer]

[Name of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]
[Address of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]

[Date]
Dear [name of perpetrator/parents/carers/guardians]
Re: Anti-social behaviour/nuisance
Despite previous warnings we have received further complaints/information that you
[or your child/your visitors] have continued to behave in an anti-social manner.
[It is alleged that] or [it was reported that]............... [details of the
allegation/incident] took place on [date] at [time] at [location].
We hope that having received this letter you understand that your behaviour causes
harassment, alarm or distress to other people and we expect you to stop this
behaviour immediately.
Please take this as a final warning that your behaviour is being monitored and should
we receive further complaints we will start legal action against you [your child], such
as applying for [details of possible action, i.e. Anti-Social Behaviour
Order (ASBO) or possession of home].
If you would like details of services that may be able to support you [your child] or if
you wish to discuss this further with us, please do not hesitate to contact us
on [contact details].
Yours sincerely

Name of person sending

Job Title
NB. Please note that this letter is given as an example should your agency wish to
adopt it. If you already have anti-social behaviour letters it is not a requirement for
you to change them to match this. You need to consider who your audience is and
their literacy level and tailor the letter accordingly.

What if the Warning Letter is Unsuccessful?

Good practice suggests adopting a tiered approach to ASB interventions. That is
starting with a low-level warning, such as a letter, and progressing to more formal
action, such as an Acceptable Behaviour Contract or Anti-Social Behaviour Order,
should the behaviour persist. With this in mind it is likely that in most cases a warning
will be the first action taken to tackle the ASB.

If a warning letter is unsuccessful in stopping the behaviour it can be followed up by a

final warning letter. This again should outline the behaviour, that it is unacceptable
and that it is a final warning before taking more formal legal/enforcement action
should the behaviour continue.

It is always important to take action if the ASB continues and formal

legal/enforcement action should only be stated in a warning if the agency will follow
through in applying for it should the behaviour continue.

Some agencies find that combining a face-to-face visit with a warning letter is more
effective than sending out a letter in isolation. For example, the Police hand-deliver a
level 2 warning letter to the perpetrator and some RSLs prefer to combine a visit with
issuing a written warning letter. Visiting the perpetrator to issue the warning not only
ensures that the perpetrator receives the letter but also provides the opportunity to
discuss the impact of their behaviour, the likely consequences of it and to offer
services to support them in changing their behaviour, if appropriate.

If a warning letter and final warning letter are unsuccessful in stopping the anti-social
behaviour there are many more ASB interventions that could be used. Following the
tiered approach the next step may be to undertake an Acceptable Behaviour
Contract (ABC) or commence proceedings for a demoted tenancy. Guidance on
ABCs and the other tools and powers to tackle ASB can be found in this toolkit.

Do and Dont
Have you
Action

Complete

thought about whether or not this is the most appropriate and most
likely to be effective intervention?
considered the possibility that sending a warning letter may make the
situation worse and looked for an alternative if this is likely?
considered other interventions for tackling the anti-social behaviour
alongside this action, such as offering support services or a support
package to assist the perpetrator in changing their behaviour?
considered informing parents/carers, if the ASB is being displayed by
a child/young person?
followed the ISA process, if the ASB is being displayed by a
child/young person?
completed a CAF/Pre-Assessment Checklist (PAC), if applicable, if the
ASB is being displayed by a child/young person?
established which other agencies/individuals are working with the
perpetrator?
contacted other agencies to see if there are any other interventions in
place or if there are any current criminal charges?
outlined the anti-social behaviour being complained
about/reported/observed?
informed the perpetrator that the behaviour is ASB?
explained the impact of their behaviour on others?
advised that their behaviour is/may now be monitored?
warned that failure to stop the behaviour may result in formal
legal/enforcement action?
considered if the perpetrator has adequate literacy to understand the
letter?
remembered to use simple, jargon-free language?
considered the individual case?
informed other relevant agencies that you have sent a warning letter,
where appropriate?

Dont

forget to tailor the letter to the individual case.

disclose details of complainants.

provide complainants, or others, with specific details but do provide

reassurance.

10

Recording Systems
Central government request quarterly information from Crime and Disorder
Reduction Partnerships on the interventions used to tackle anti-social behaviour in
their area. In Shropshire this information is collated and co-ordinated on a central
basis. In line with this requirement we suggest that you keep records of the warning
letters you issue on a monthly/quarterly basis. The following information must be
recorded:

The number of warning letters issued that quarter

The age of the perpetrators who have received a warning letter that quarter

This information should be sent to Kelly Oldham Anti-Social Behaviour Programme

Delivery Officer, Safer Communities Team, Shropshire County Council, Shirehall,
Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6ND or
kelly.oldham@shropshire.gov.uk, on a quarterly basis, no later than 15 working days
after the end of the quarter. Quarters run from January to March inclusive, April to
June inclusive, July to September inclusive and October to December inclusive.

It would also be advisable to keep records that would enable you to identify the
success rate of the warning letters you issue. For example, how many people who
received a warning letter displayed no further anti-social behaviour in the next six
months? You may also consider recording the ethnicity of the recipient of the warning
letter. At present we are not required to provide information on the ethnicity of people
receiving ASB interventions, however with increased focus on establishing what
works with who we may be asked to provide this information in the future.

11

Warning Letters Quarterly Returns

Agency Name
Quarter
Number of warning letters
issued this quarter
Ages of perpetrators
receiving a warning letter
(please list)
White
Eng

Scot

Welsh

Other
Brit

Irish

Travell
er

Gypsy/
Roma

Other
White

Mixed
White & Black
Caribbean

White & Black

African

White & Asian

Other

Black or Black British

Caribbean

African

Ethnicity of perpetrators
receiving a warning letter, if
known

Other

Asian or British Asian

Indian

Pakistani

Bangladeshi

Other

Chinese or other ethnic group

Chinese

Other

Not known

Please complete and return to: Kelly Oldham Anti-Social Behaviour Officer,
Shropshire Partnership, Shropshire Council, Shirehall, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury,
Shropshire, SY2 6ND or kelly.oldham@shropshire.gov.uk

12