During ASB Awareness Week, we’re recognising the work of housing, police and community safety professionals who help make neighbourhoods safer every day.
At Cobalt, our teams work closely with customers and partner agencies to resolve anti-social behaviour, support victims and find long-term solutions. Every case is different, but our focus is always on protecting customers and improving communities.
Take a look at some examples of how we’ve made a difference in our communities:
Case study #1
Helping neighbours move forward after a long-running dispute
A long-running dispute over street parking between neighbouring households had created years of tension and eventually escalated into threats and a physical altercation.
While parking issues themselves are outside of Cobalt’s powers, the impact on those involved was clear. The ongoing conflict was affecting the wellbeing of residents and creating a difficult environment for everyone involved.
Following the incident, our team worked with the households, victims and witnesses to understand the situation and decide on the most appropriate action. Formal warnings and tenancy enforcement action were issued where necessary, making it clear that violence and threatening behaviour would not be tolerated.
However, we also recognised that enforcement alone would not resolve the underlying issues. To help prevent further incidents, mediation was arranged to support the families involved in rebuilding communication and finding a way forward.
As a result, tensions reduced, and no further incidents have been reported.
Case study #2
Acting quickly to protect customers following serious incidents
When a customer’s home was damaged in an arson attack carried out by another resident living in the same block, Cobalt acted quickly to provide support and reduce the risk of further harm.
Working closely with partner agencies, we secured approval to move the affected customer to alternative accommodation as quickly as possible.
Following a further serious incident involving the same individual, our team worked alongside Merseyside Police to visit the block, reassure customers, gather information and address concerns within the community.
To help protect residents, we successfully secured an emergency injunction which included an exclusion order preventing the individual from returning to the property if released on bail.
Although the offender was later remanded in custody and pleaded guilty, Cobalt secured the injunction and exclusion for a further 12 months, providing ongoing protection and reassurance for customers living in the block.
These cases demonstrate the importance of partnership working, early intervention and taking action that not only addresses incidents when they occur but helps prevent future harm.
