Criminal behaviour

Criminal behaviour refers to any activity that breaks the law and is dealt with by the police. This includes a wide range of offences, including, but not limited to:

• knife crime
• assault
• threats
• prostitution
• harassment.

We take reports criminal behaviour seriously. If you witness or are affected by a crime, we encourage you to report it to the police immediately. You can call 101, or if it's an emergency 999. 

Once you report the incident with the police they will give you a log number. Please share this with us so we can work with the police, support you, and take any necessary steps to address the behaviour of the individual involved.

Knives and offensive weapons

Under the Offensive Weapons Act, it is unlawful to possess certain offensive weapons. This includes items such as rapid firing rifles and specific types of knives like flick knives and zombie knives.

If you witness or are a victim of knife or gun-related crime, you should report it to the police right away.

Once you have reported it to the police, please report it to us by emailing communitysafety@alliancehomes.org.uk. completing our 'Contact us' webform or through Connect, our online customer portal. Include the log number and the name of the officer you spoke to, so we can work with them to protect you and our community.

Ninja swords

From 1 August 2025, it is illegal to own, sell, make, or import ninja swords. If you're caught with one in public or private, you could face up to six months in prison. You can still surrender a ninja sword anonymously.

Surrendering a knife or offensive weapon

You can safely and anonymously surrender a knife or offensive weapon at any surrender bin located across the Avon and Somerset area. Visit the Avon and Somerset Police website to find the near one to you.

They also provide guidance on how to do this safely:

• Wrap the item in something like a towel and carry it in a bag
• Go during daylight and check the location is open.
• Don’t carry it longer than needed, go straight to the bin
• If the item(s) is too big, they may not fit in to the surrender bin. In that case, hand it over at the site.