Drug, alcohol, smoking and antisocial behaviour policy

1. Purpose

Threshold is committed to providing safe and supportive accommodation environments. Residents are expected to behave responsibly and in a way that does not place themselves or others at risk.

If you are unsure what this policy means or how it applies to you, please speak to a member of staff.

This policy covers:

• Illegal drugs and psychoactive substances
• Misuse of prescribed medication
• Alcohol
• Smoking and vaping
• Substance-related anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Threshold staff will take action where there are concerns about substance-related activity on or near any Threshold premises. This includes:

• Internal areas
• Communal areas
• Gardens and outdoor spaces
• Entrances and surrounding areas
• Neighbouring areas where behaviour impacts the local community or Threshold’s reputation

Substance misuse and associated behaviour can negatively affect residents, staff, neighbours and the wider community. It may also place Threshold in breach of its legal responsibilities.

Threshold has legal obligations under:

• The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
• The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
• The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016
• Health and safety legislation
• Safeguarding responsibilities

Threshold therefore has:

• A duty to work within the law
• A duty to provide a safe environment for residents, staff and visitors
• A duty to safeguard vulnerable people
• A duty to minimise nuisance and anti-social behaviour
• A duty to work responsibly with the local community and partner agencies

Threshold recognises that some residents may have a history of substance misuse or may be seeking support to address issues relating to drugs or alcohol. Threshold will support residents to access appropriate services wherever possible, including treatment, recovery, harm reduction and healthcare services.

However, continued accommodation and support are dependent upon residents:

• Following this policy
• Engaging appropriately with staff
• Taking responsibility for their behaviour
• Not placing others at risk
• Not causing nuisance, disorder, criminal activity or safeguarding concerns

Threshold reserves the right to escalate enforcement action immediately where behaviour presents a significant safeguarding, fire, criminal or community risk.

2. Definitions

For the purpose of this policy:

• Premises includes all bedrooms, communal areas, offices, gardens, entrances, pathways, external spaces and surrounding grounds managed by Threshold
• Illegal drugs includes controlled substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and any unlawful psychoactive substances
• Intoxicated means affected by alcohol or substances to the extent that physical or mental control, behaviour, judgement, safety, or engagement is negatively impacted
• Visitors includes any non-resident attending or entering Threshold premises
• ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) includes behaviour causing harassment, alarm, distress, nuisance, intimidation, disorder, risk or harm to others
• Threats, harassment, intimidation and/or violence can include physical, mental, verbal, emotional, sexual and/or financial abuse

3. Drugs and Substances

Threshold prohibits:

• Bringing illegal drugs, including cannabis, onto or near Threshold premises
• Using illegal drugs on or near Threshold premises
• Producing, supplying, sharing or dealing drugs on or near Threshold premises
• Misusing or sharing prescribed medication or psychoactive substances

• Allowing visitors to engage in any prohibited substance-related activity

Threshold will not tolerate behaviour linked to drugs or substances that:

• Places residents, staff, visitors or neighbours at risk
• Causes nuisance, alarm, distress or harassment
• Causes damage to property
• Creates safeguarding concerns
• Risks criminal investigation or prosecution

Where Threshold knows or suspects that drug-related activity is taking place, staff will investigate and take appropriate action.

Action taken will depend on:

• The seriousness of the incident
• Risk posed to others
• Previous incidents or warnings
• Safeguarding concerns
• Criminal or exploitative behaviour
• Resident engagement with support

Threshold may:

• Issue warnings
• Implement an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)
• Restrict visitors
• Involve external agencies
• Serve a Notice to Quit (NTQ)
• Contact the Police where appropriate

Any involvement in the production, supply or dealing of illegal drugs or psychoactive substances is likely to result in immediate enforcement action, including an NTQ and Police involvement.

Enforcement process for drug breaches

Behaviour	Likely Action
Illegal drug use on premises	Stage 2 final warning and Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)
Repeat alcohol-related breaches	Notice to Quit (NTQ) consideration
Serious drug-related incidents involving violence, threats, safeguarding concerns, or serious ASB	Immediate escalation to final warning or NTQ
Drug supply/dealing	Immediate NTQ (Stage 3) and Police involvement

Giving prescribed medication to another person, sharing medication, or sharing substances with others may be treated as supply or dealing.

4. Prescribed Medication

If you bring prescribed controlled medication into Threshold accommodation, including methadone, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines or similar medications, you should inform staff for the safety of residents and staff.

Residents must:

• Keep prescribed medication secure
• Store medication in original packaging with labels intact
• Keep medication on their person or safely locked away
• Never leave medication unattended in communal areas
• Never give medication to another person

Threshold cannot store medication on behalf of residents.

If staff discover unattended substances in communal areas:

• Illegal substances may be destroyed or handed to the Police
• Controlled medication may be returned to a pharmacy
• Identifiable prescribed medication may be returned to the resident where appropriate

5. Alcohol

Alcohol is not permitted anywhere within Threshold premises, including:

• Bedrooms
• Communal areas
• Gardens and outdoor spaces
• Entrances and surrounding grounds

Residents must not:

• Possess, consume, store or distribute alcohol on Threshold premises
• Return to the property heavily intoxicated
• Allow visitors to consume alcohol on the premises
• Cause nuisance, disorder, intimidation or anti-social behaviour linked to alcohol use

Threshold recognises that some residents may have a history of alcohol dependency or problematic alcohol use. Staff will seek to support residents to access appropriate treatment and support services wherever possible.

However, support can only continue where residents:

• Engage positively with support
• Follow this policy
• Do not place others at risk

Alcohol-related behaviour that impacts the safety or wellbeing of others will not be tolerated.

Examples include:

• Aggressive, threatening or alarming behaviour
• Repeated intoxication causing disruption
• Property damage
• Harassment or intimidation
• Nuisance or disruption
• Alcohol-related criminal behaviour
• Parties or gatherings involving alcohol

Residents are responsible for the behaviour of their visitors.

Alcohol use on the premises is a breach of the licence agreement and enforcement action will be taken.

Enforcement process for alcohol breaches

Behaviour	Likely Action
Alcohol use on premises	Stage 2 Final Warning and Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)
Repeat alcohol-related breaches	Notice to Quit (NTQ) consideration
Serious alcohol-related incidents involving violence, threats, safeguarding concerns, or serious ASB	Immediate escalation to final warning or NTQ

6. Smoking and Vaping

Smoking or vaping is strictly prohibited inside any Threshold property.

This includes:

• Bedrooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Hallways and stairwells
• Offices
• Communal areas

This rule applies to:

• Cigarettes
• Roll-ups
• Cigars
• Vapes and e-cigarettes
• Shisha
• Tobacco products
• Any smoking-related substances or devices

Smoking indoors presents serious fire, health, and safety risks, particularly within supported accommodation.

Residents may only smoke in designated outdoor areas[RH1] where permitted and must do so respectfully and safely.

Residents must:

• Dispose of cigarette butts safely and responsibly
• Avoid causing nuisance to neighbours
• Not congregate noisily outside the property
• Not smoke near entrances, windows or fire exits
• Not tamper with smoke alarms or fire safety equipment

Any damage caused by smoking, including burns, staining, odour removal or fire damage, may result in recharge costs.

Residents are responsible for ensuring visitors also comply with smoking rules.

Smoking inside the property is a breach of the licence agreement and enforcement action will be taken.

Enforcement process for smoking breaches

Behaviour	Likely Action
Smoking indoors	Verbal or written warning
Repeated smoking indoors	Stage 2 Final Warning and/or Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC)
Persistent breaches following warnings	Notice to Quit (NTQ) consideration
Tampering with smoke alarms or serious fire safety risks	Immediate escalation to final warning or NTQ

7. Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

Residents are responsible for their own behaviour and the behaviour of their visitors on or near Threshold premises.

Anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and may result in enforcement action.

Examples of ASB include:

• Threatening, abusive or intimidating behaviour
• Sexually inappropriate behaviour
• Harassment
• Violence or threats of violence
• Keeping a weapon
• Noise nuisance
• Disruptive visitors
• Invasion of privacy
• Drug or alcohol-related nuisance
• Criminal activity
• Damage to property
• Leaving drug paraphernalia in communal or public spaces
• Hate incidents or discriminatory behaviour

If visitors cause problems and residents fail to prevent or report this behaviour, action may be taken against both the visitor and resident.

Threshold may:

• Issue warnings
• Restrict or ban visitors
• Implement Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)
• Involve partner agencies
• Serve a Notice to Quit (NTQ)
• Contact the Police where necessary

Serious incidents involving violence, threats, intimidation, harassment, weapons, exploitation or safeguarding concerns may result in immediate enforcement action.

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, the Police and courts have powers to close properties associated with serious nuisance, disorder, or criminal behaviour. Threshold therefore has a duty to take prompt action to prevent such behaviour.

Enforcement process for antisocial behaviour

Behaviour	Likely Action
Anti-social behaviour	Stage 1–3 warning process depending on severity
Serious ASB, threats, intimidation, or harassment	Final warning or immediate NTQ
Violence or threats linked to substances	Immediate NTQ
Possession of weapons	Immediate NTQ and Police involvement where appropriate

8. Support Meetings and Keywork

Residents are expected to engage appropriately with support and keywork sessions.

Residents must not:

• Attend meetings under the influence of non-prescribed substances or alcohol
• Behave aggressively, abusively or inappropriately towards staff
• Disrupt support sessions

Threshold staff must be able to safely and effectively provide support.

Where residents are unable or unwilling to engage appropriately, Threshold may review whether accommodation and support can continue.

Failure to engage appropriately with support may be treated as a breach of the licence agreement whereby Threshold may initiate the Enforcement and Warning Process.

9. Enforcement and Warning Process

Threshold will consider:

• Severity of behaviour
• Frequency of incidents
• Risk to others
• Safeguarding concerns
• Criminal behaviour
• Resident engagement with support

Enforcement action may include:

• Verbal warnings
• Written warnings
• Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs)
• Visitor restrictions
• Multi-agency referrals
• Notice to Quit (NTQ)
• Police involvement

Enforcement Table

Breach	Likely Action
Smoking inside the property	Warning process
Repeated smoking breaches indoors	Stage 2 Final Warning (ABC) or NTQ consideration
Alcohol use on premises	Stage 2 Final Warning (ABC)
Repeat alcohol breaches	NTQ consideration
Illegal drug use on premises	Stage 2 Final Warning (ABC) or NTQ depending on severity
Drug supply or dealing	Immediate NTQ and possible Police involvement
Anti-social behaviour	Stage 1–3 warning process depending on severity
Serious ASB, threats, intimidation, or harassment	Final warning or immediate NTQ
Violence or threats linked to substances	Immediate NTQ
Possession of weapons	Immediate NTQ and Police involvement where appropriate

Threshold reserves the right to escalate enforcement action immediately where behaviour presents significant risk.

10. Information Sharing and Safeguarding

Threshold may share information with:

• Police
• Local authorities
• Safeguarding teams
• Probation services
• Healthcare professionals
• Relevant partner agencies

This may occur where there are concerns relating to:

• Criminal activity
• Exploitation
• Abuse
• Violence
• Safeguarding risks
• Serious anti-social behaviour
• Risk to staff, residents or the public

Information sharing will be carried out lawfully and proportionately.

11. Licence Agreement

It is a breach of the licence agreement to:

• Possess, use, supply, or allow others to possess, use, or supply illegal drugs on Threshold premises
• Misuse prescribed medication or psychoactive substances
• Consume or possess alcohol on Threshold premises
• Return to Threshold premises heavily intoxicated
• Smoke or vape inside Threshold premises
• Engage in anti-social, threatening, abusive, or criminal behaviour
• Allow visitors to breach Threshold rules

Residents are responsible for the conduct of their visitors.

Breaches of this policy may result in enforcement action, including a Notice to Quit and loss of accommodation.

Residents who require support relating to drugs, alcohol, mental health, or behavioural concerns are encouraged to speak with staff as early as possible so appropriate support can be discussed.