One Single, National Information Sharing Agreement - one for all and all for one?

Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week Series - Part 3

As part of ASB Awareness Week, our housing management team has curated a series of articles which give practical advice and insight into four core themes surrounding ASB, with a focus on making our communities safer. 

Part 3 focuses on: One Single, National Information Sharing Agreement.  Part 1 of the series, Tackling trouble together: supporting victims of anti-social behaviour was published on Monday 30 June. Part 2 of the series, Delays in the Civil Justice System - is it time for a specialist Housing Court? was published on Tuesday 1 July.  The last part of the series will be published on Thursday 3 July 2025.

To round off the week we're also running a webinar on Friday 4 July at 10am where our specialist Housing Management solicitors will be discussing four key themes in helping to #MakeCommunitiesSafer. Please sign up if you'd like to join us. 

One Single, National Information Sharing Agreement - one for all and all for one?

The Local Government Association ("LGA") and Resolve are requesting that the Government standardise the sharing of anti-social behaviour information to improve anti-social behaviour intervention. The aim is a single information sharing agreement, which would ensure all agencies responding to anti-social behaviour can access the information they need, when they need it.

Whilst we know speed is crucial in tackling anti-social behaviour, Resolve found through its survey that 97% of its members had experienced difficulty accessing information from other agencies, even when it had been required to prevent harm or criminal activity. We know that unresolved and uncoordinated behaviour can lead to the behaviour escalating, serious harm being caused, safeguarding issues arising, vulnerabilities being heightened and there being missed opportunities to promote good social housing. 

A joint survey by the LGA and Resolve highlights that 80% of local authorities believe the current inconsistent information sharing arrangements cause delay in tackling anti-social behaviour. It seems 90% of local authorities feel a closer working relationship between registered providers and agencies will lead to improvements in addressing anti-social behaviour.  

Further key findings from the survey: 

• 83% of councils believed housing providers should get full access to community safety partnerships, allowing sharing of information both ways.
• 75% of councils felt a change in personnel within partner organisations was a barrier in sharing anti-social behaviour related information across different organisations.
• 81% support the creation of a specialist housing court for ASB cases. 
• 83% believe that victims of anti-social behaviour should receive national victim support.

Surely one information sharing arrangement between social landlords will ensure the right form of action is taken at the right time and in the most cost-effective way. 

Is the bureaucracy involved and ignorance of what can and cannot be shared, a block to accurate information sharing? Surely if everyone has the same form, same time scales and same rules for disclosure, that block can be substantially reduced, if not removed altogether? Its noteworthy, that 85% of local authorities support a single information sharing agreement which aims to standardise the process across the country.

Registered providers are conscious of their tenant satisfaction measures, one information sharing agreement will greatly assist to manage tenant expectations through quicker action.

What do you think, should there be one information sharing agreement or various agreements, to tackle anti-social behaviour moving forward? 

If you would like to discuss #MakingCommunitiesSafer in further detail please contact our housing management team. Or you can sign up to our Social housing updates.