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Article: Community safety, crime and vandalism

Community safety, crime and vandalismWhat can you do if you suffer acts of crime and vandalism?

If you are a victim of a crime, such as homophobic crime, racist crime, or general crime or if you or members of your local community are unsafe then please contact the Police, but also tell us.

It is possible that if a crime is committed by a council tenant against another resident whilst in their own home, or near their home, the person committing the crime may be in breach of their conditions of tenancy. We may be able to take action against them.

What general advice can I have to protect me and my home against crime and vandalism?

Another major crime is burglary. Most burglars are not master criminals. They're usually looking for an easy opportunity to get into a house without being seen.

Once they have been in and got away with it, they may be back again unless you do something. And there's lots you can do. Don't rely on one or two precautions. Here is a list of things that will help you beat the burglar!

Outside - Your First Line of Defence

1. Walls and Fences : High fences are hard to climb, but they give a burglar cover once he's over. So keep them low. The best fences have a trellis on top - they're more difficult to climb.
2. Lighting: Get an outdoor light with a sensor that comes on when someone's around.

Is Anybody Home?

1. Lights: You can get plug-in timers for your lamps - and timers for your ceiling lights. Don't just light up the hall. Fool a burglar by lighting up the landing, bathroom, bedroom and living room too.
2. Sound Advice: Use a plug-in timer for a radio - make it a talk station rather than music.
3. Curtains: Get a trusted neighbour to shut the curtains if you're away. You could return the favour some time!

Help Yourself - Get Equipped

  1. Mortice Locks: Your front and back outside doors are thick enough for a five-lever mortice-lock. Make sure it's British Safety Standard BS3621.
  2. Window Locks: The best type for a wooden frame does not involve any of the window catches - it pulls the window onto the frame with a key. Fit two locks on a big window.
  3. Double Glazing: The safest double glazing has bolts that shoot into the frame for extra security. Laminated glass is better than toughened because it stays in place when it's smashed - slowing a burglar down. It's safer for kids too because toughened glass shatters into tiny bits.
  4. Patio Doors: Make these safer with a purpose-made lock or a security bar.
  5. French Windows: If both parts of your French windows open, and you only fit a lock to one - the other is a weak point. Consider mortice bolts for the top and bottom of each door. Fit them into the frame - not the other door.
  6. Keys: Keep spares with a neighbour, friend or relative - not in the house. And never leave keys in the door.
  7. Dogs: Don't rely just on your dog to protect your home.
  8. House Alarms: When alarms sound, most burglars grab what they can and run for it. Whichever type of alarm you choose, get a professional to fit it.
  9. Home Insurance - Ensure that your properties contents are covered through Home Insurance.  Berneslai Homes offers Home Insurance from as little as 85 pence per week, (56 pence for residents aged 60 and over), you can have the peace of mind of knowing that your furniture, belongings and decorations are insured against fire, theft, vandalism, burst pipes and other household risks.  Visit our Home Contents Insurance page for further details.  

Keep Them Out

1. Doorstep Crooks: Some criminals won't go to the trouble of breaking into your home if they can just knock and be invited in. But don't get it out of proportion - you've probably had many genuine callers at your front door and not one trickster. Bogus callers come in all shapes and sizes: young kids, pregnant women, and men - from the overalled to the uniformed to the suited.
2. Bogus officials: Water board officials never need to come into your home to test water pressure or repair leaks - even in emergencies. If they ever do need to get in they must send you a letter first making an appointment. Gas and electricity meter readers want you to check their identity before you let them in. If in doubt, ring up and check. Genuine callers don't mind this in the least. Keep the phone numbers handy. Shut the door while you're checking - genuine callers don't mind!

Berneslai Homes staff all have ID Cards. If you are unsure about the identity of a caller who says they work for Berneslai Homes ring us on 772704. We can check our database and confirm the identity of the caller.

3.Look Before You Open: Always look to see who's at the door before you open.
4. Door Viewer: If your front door doesn't have glass, fit a spy-hole. Or get into the habit of looking through a window near the door to see who is calling.
5. Door Light: An outside light over the door will help you see a caller in the dark.
6. Door Chain: If you need to open the door to make further checks, use a door chain or similar device. Remember:
  don't let people in until you know who they are;

  • keep the door locked while you check their story;
  • if you let someone in, stay with them all the time;
  • never part with money or other things, whatever they say;
  • if suspicious - ring the Police;
  • get more than one estimate for work;
  • official organisations usually write first;
  • check identity cards thoroughly;
  • don't let callers put pressure on you to let them in; and
  • if in doubt - Keep Them Out!

Coded for Keeps

1. Ultra-violet Marking: UV marker pens cost about £1 from stationers and security shops. Use them to put your postcode and house number in invisible ink on the bottom of your valuables. If your things are found, the police can read your details under UV light and get things back to you. Redo this every year, as the writing fades.
2. Photographs: For small items like jewellery, photograph them against a ruler. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Gardens and Sheds

1. Shed Security: Remember to postcode anything of value in your shed. Your lawn mower will be harder for the burglar to sell on with your house number and postcode painted across it.
2. Padlocks: A good quality padlock - and the hasp and staple that go with it - is important on all sheds and garage side-doors. It's best to bolt the hasp and staple to the door and frame for extra strength.
3. Screw Heads: Smear glue over the heads of screws or use anti-tamper screws.
4. Bicycles: Lock bikes to something fixed or bulky like a ladder or workbench.
5. Garden Tools: Don't leave them lying around the garden, a burglar could use them to break in.
6. Neighbourhood Watch: Protecting your home is fine, but you will enjoy greater security and peace of mind if everyone around is working with you. An enthusiastic neighbourhood watch scheme will deter burglars. Contact your local police station for help setting one up.

And Remember... Prevention is better than cure.

Berneslai Homes targets community issues at a local level in partnership with support and enforcement agencies. One way this is achieved is by using money that local groups/residents can influence how it is spent. A small budget can be targeted to improve community safety and reduce the fear of crime. Should you feel that you have a suggestion that would improve this for your local community please contact your local Housing Management Team who will be more than happy to discuss your ideas e.g. additional fencing, improved lighting etc.

What can I do if I want to help more?

If you are interested in influencing this further you may want to join your local Tenants and Residents Association and your local Housing Management Team will be able to provide you with further details on this.

What should I do if I am suffering from vandalism or crime on my estate?

If you are suffering or witness vandalism or crime on a Council Estate or to Council property then please tell us. If the person committing the crime is a council tenant they may be breaking the terms and conditions of their tenancy and if so we may be able to take action. Obviously, if any crime is being committed you must also contact South Yorkshire Police on 101.

In all cases contact your local Housing Management Team or email your local team: 

Allternatively you can complete the complaints sheet on-line.

Will you treat any complaint confidentially?

Yes. We will not identify who made a complaint. But if we have to go to court we may have to ask you to give evidence.

How can you contact us?

Your local Barnsley Connects Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.  Tel: 01226 775555.

Will we charge anyone if we catch them vandalising property?

We will send a bill to an individual if we charge them for the cost of putting right any damage.

What can you do to help us?

If you are reporting a tenant who you feel has broken the terms of their tenancy agreement or about community safety, please make sure that you tell us: 

  • your name, address and phone number;
  • their name and address;
  • brief details of what is happening; and
  • how this affects you.

How should I record incidents?

Neighbour nuisance diary sheets are available from your local Barnsley Connects Office.

Alternatively we can post them to you or you can request them by e-mail CustomerServices@berneslaihomes.co.uk or by phoning 01226 772720.

What other information is available?

Click the links below to download a copy of the leaflet.

Or, you can pick any of these leaflets up from your local Barnsley Connects Office or by e-mailing us at CustomerServices@berneslaihomes.co.uk or by phoning 01226 772720.

Which laws apply to this?

You may find some information on Department for Communities and Local Government website.

  • Housing Act 1996 
  • Housing Act 1985 
  • Housing Act 2004 
  • Crime and Disorder Act 1998 
  • Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 
  • Police Reform Act 2002
  • Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment act 2005
  • Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
  • Environmental Acts

When will we contact you?

If you tell us that a tenant is breaking the terms of their tenancy we aim to visit them within 5 working days. If it is a really serious issue, we will visit them sooner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will you treat my report confidentially?

Yes. We will not tell the person you are complaining about who has reported them. But, if we have to go to court to take action against them we will have to ask you to give evidence in court.

I want to complain anonymously?

We will accept an anonymous complaint but without evidence there may be very little we can do about the problem.

Useful information and websites

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