Web data-capture solution harnessed to monitor and reduce instances of ASB across county.

July 24, 2007 - West Sussex Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnerships across West Sussex has deployed an innovative, web-based platform to better analyse and manage anti-social behaviour (ASB), enabling multiple agencies across the county to monitor and manage instances of ASB in the county more effectively.

Developed by Vantage Technologies, the Sentinel for ASB Management System will be used by the partnerships to manage a full spectrum of anti-social behaviour issues including vandalism, threatening behaviour, environmental crime, nuisance and harassment. 

The web-based platform enables users from multiple agencies including the Police, Social Services and Local Authority to record instances and produce reports.  It gives all parties involved access to the same level of information in order to analyse and monitor trends in events and risk factors to identify potential hotspots and ensure a proactive approach to tackling ASB. 

Previously each division within the district was manually inputting and collating its own data on local anti-social behaviour using Excel spreadsheets, but a number of the cases were cross-border, meaning they were often difficult to catalogue and monitor. 

Sentinel for ASB has enabled the council to adopt a county-wide approach. Instances of ASB can be recorded uniformly across the county into one central database over the Internet, offering a coordinated approach to ASB tracking and management whilst also reducing admin.

Jeff Fullard operational head of community safety West Sussex Council said: “The great thing about this solution is its flexibility.  Not only does it allow all parties within the region to collate data in a uniform manner - which is easily accessible, but it also allows us to tailor the system to meet our own needs.  The interface is extremely simple to use and can be easily adapted in accordance with partners requirements.

“Once we have fully integrated the Sentinel for ASB tool into our system it will make recording and managing ASB cases in the West Sussex area a lot easier and more efficient, and will help to progress the West Sussex Council and other partners anti-social behaviour policy – we expect to see a marked improvement in the handling of ASB within the county in the next 6 to12 months.”

West Sussex County Council evaluated a number of solutions but found Sentinel for ASB best met their operational and reporting requirements, offering cost-effective and comprehensive means of addressing the issue of anti-social behaviour. 

Sentinel’s modular nature means that it can record, analyse and help to process all types of incidents and related issues.  The system also includes a full range of reporting facilities using predefined and ad-hoc report formats.

A further benefit is the ability to audit transactions and usage – a vital consideration for public-sector compliance and accountability.  Sentinel’s web interface also reduces IT deployment and management overheads and minimises training needs.