Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s response to Mr X’s anti-social behaviour complaint. This is because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

The complaint

1. Mr X complained the Council failed to take proper action to address anti-social behaviour taking place in his local area.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse impact on the person making the complaint, which we call ‘injustice’. We provide a free service, but must use public money carefully. We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is not enough evidence of fault to justify investigating.
   (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))

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How I considered this complaint

3. I considered information provided by Mr X and the Council.
4. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

5. Mr X complained to the Council that illegal activity was taking place near his home.
6. The Council told Mr X that it had met with several other bodies including the Police to tackle the problem. The Council also installed CCTV cameras, trimmed hedges to improve lighting, carried out a site visit and arranged a meeting with the local community.
7. Mr X wants us to find the Council at fault. The Council has responded to Mr X’s complaint in the manner we would expect. The evidence shows the Council is aware of the problem and acting within its remit to address it. An investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

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Final decision

8. We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint because an investigation would be unlikely to find fault with the Council’s actions.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman