The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about anti- social behaviour. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. This is an ongoing case being investigated by the Council so there is no worthwhile outcome to be achieved.
The complaint
Mrs X complains the Council is not taking her complaints seriously about serious anti-social behaviour and racial harassment by neighbours.
Mrs X says their health and family life have been adversely affected for over a year.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
We investigate complaints about ‘maladministration’ and ‘service failure’, which we call ‘fault’. We must also consider whether any fault has had an adverse effect 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 an investigation if we decide the tests set out in our Assessment Code are not met. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended) We do not start or continue an investigation if we decide there is no worthwhile outcome achievable by our investigation. (Local Government Act 1974, section 24A(6), as amended, section 34(B))
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by the complainant and the Council.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
Final decision
We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint because it does not meet the tests in our Assessment code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. The Council is acting together with the Police on Mrs X’s concerns as a multi-agency response, so it is too early for us to intervene there is no worthwhile outcome.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman