More than 1,600 complaints about anti-social behaviour were made to Norwich City Council during the past year – with some locals forced to wait months before action was taken.
Figures obtained by this newspaper via a Freedom of Information request show 1,616 complaints were made to City Hall between the end of July 2025 and the beginning of August 2026.
Incidents range from excessive noise to drug use and public violence, resulting in 731 cases being opened by the authority.
The figures have fuelled frustration among locals who say the problems they are complaining about can drag on for months before meaningful action is taken.
COMMUNITIES IN DISTRESS
Among those affected is Ana Ohde, who previously lived at Cannell Green, off Barrack Street - based in the Crome ward - where the council has issued one of its nine closure orders.
Ms Ohde petitioned for City Hall to take action against the "excessive noise" and "threatening conduct" which stemmed from one flat at the council-owned estate.
Closure orders are used to shut properties associated with serious anti-social behaviour, making it a criminal offence to enter without permission during the period of the order.
The council issued a full closure order in July last year to stop a tenant from returning to the property.
However, at the beginning of the year, the order was lifted and the tenant was allowed to return.
The council then issued a second full closure order following reports of fights, shouting and threatening behaviour from neighbours.
Ms Ohde, who has since moved away from the estate because of the issues, said: "Why, if you know they are repeat offenders, do you put them back in the same place where they are going to be an issue and the community gets distressed?
"The council has data on the type of people who live in the area. If you think about Cannell Green, they put the guy in a site where other males were living, as well as families.
"A huge amount of resources are spent every time the police come out, every time the council issues a closure, every time they have to repair the flats. I would imagine it would be in the thousands."
Less than half a mile away, Nigel Brock says he has spent the last 11 years battling anti-social behaviour on his doorstep.
Although Mr Brock says he did not make complaints directly to the council, he has for years been complaining to the police and local housing bosses, including St Martins Trust - which runs the hostel next to his flat at William White Place - in an effort to stop the troublemakers.
Mr Brock said: "It's frustrating. I went through the right systems and no one in authority took it seriously. It feels like the complainant is made to be the problem."
CITY'S WORST-HIT AREAS
Mancroft ward recorded the highest number of complaints, with 215 reports lodged with the council.
The ward, which includes areas like Haymarket, was followed by Crome with 188 complaints and Mile Cross with 172.
The authority said that among the number of incidents reported, often there are multiple complaints relating to the same property.
This explains why the number of investigations launched is lower than the total number of reports received.
Following the 731 investigations, the council issued nine full closure orders, preventing anyone from entering a property unless specifically authorised by the council.
'COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE'
Reform councillor Tim Day described the figures as "unacceptable", accusing the city council of acting too slowly when dealing with anti-social behaviour reports.
Mr Day, who represents Crome, said: "Seeing 1,616 complaints in a year is completely unacceptable.
"As a Reform councillor, tackling crime is a top priority. I work closely with Norfolk Police, who are deeply committed to stopping this, but they are constantly let down by the city council's sluggish bureaucracy.
"I regularly hear from residents enduring severe late-night disturbances, intimidation, and drug use. They do everything right. They log the reports and keep the diaries, only to wait months for city council to actually do something.
"By the time enforcement happens, hard-working families have already suffered immensely."
COUNCIL RESPONSE
A Norwich City Council spokesman said: "When we receive complaints of anti-social behaviour, we assess each one individually in line with legal requirements and our responsibilities as a landlord.
"Over half the complaints we received in the last 12 months were about noise, which are subject to different regulations and investigation methods.
"Each case is considered on its own merit, and our focus is to help individuals change their behaviour and protect the wider community. We often work with other agencies, the police and community leaders as part of our investigative process.
"When individuals refuse to change their behaviour, we then consider legal action through tenancy enforcement based on evidence, risk, and the impact this may have on the wider community. Legal action can be a timely process, with some cases taking months to years to resolve."
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