Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) has experienced a significant increase in its caseload, with a 141% rise over the past three years. The unit, which investigates high-risk anti-social behaviour, harassment, hate crime, and cuckooing, is now dealing with a greater number of complex cases.
During the 2025/26 period, the ASBU managed an average of 39 live cases per officer, a substantial increase from previous years. This surge in complexity is attributed to a rise in cases involving hate crime and hate incidents, which have seen a 170% increase, and cuckooing, which has risen by 41%.
The increased caseload and complexity are described as typically more resource intensive, remain open for longer periods and require extensive coordination with housing providers, police, safeguarding services, mental health services and other statutory partners.
The complexity of demand has increased at a significantly faster rate than overall volumes, and priorities for 2026/27 include ensuring resources remain aligned to the increasingly complex ASB demand profile.
While specific long-term implications are not detailed, the unit is actively working to align resources with the evolving demand.
Despite the growing complexity of cases, the ASBU has maintained strong response times, with 99% of residents contacted or offered an interview within key performance indicator (KPI) timescales. However, customer satisfaction surveys indicate a need for improvement in communication and expectation management, particularly within the Housing North and South teams.
Miguel Javelot, ASBU Manager, highlighted the unit's leading national work on cuckooing prevention and risk management. He explained that cuckooing involves vulnerable residents being exploited, often linked to county lines drug trafficking. The council has developed a specific risk matrix to identify and support individuals at risk. Beyond this matrix, the ASBU employs a multi-faceted approach to cuckooing prevention. A dedicated officer conducts monthly visits to individuals deemed at risk, and the Cuckooing Risk Panel meets monthly, inviting referrals from partners to assess, allocate, and monitor cases. This panel aims to intercept the problem at an early stage. The unit also works closely with the police, specifically Project Ada, and is developing work related to perpetrators, including a new matrix with UCL.
The unit's efforts are reflected in various interventions. For instance, ASB drug interventions have seen a decrease in This Year
compared to Last Year
in most months between January and June 2026, although June 2026 shows an increase. Similarly, street population interventions have generally increased in This Year
compared to 2025. Patrol numbers across various areas, including highways, district centres, and parks, also show a significant increase in This Year
compared to Last Year
for the same period.
Further details on the unit's activities and performance can be found in the Public reports pack for the Community Safety Board meeting on 14th July 2026. Public reports pack 14th-Jul-2026 19.00 Community Safety Board
