Find support for community concerns

Different organisations have different responsibilities and powers to address community concerns. This guidance explains which organisation is best placed to respond.

If the concern involves UWE Bristol students, you can also tell our Community Liaison Team so that the information can be recorded and considered through the University’s processes.

Crime, threats and anti-social behaviour

The police are responsible for criminal investigations and public safety. Contact the police about criminal activity, threats, violence, criminal damage, drug-related concerns or anti-social behaviour that requires police involvement.

• Call 999 in an emergency
• Call 101 for a non-emergency police matter.

Noise

Local authorities hold statutory powers in relation to noise nuisance. You should report ongoing or significant noise issues through the appropriate council reporting routes.

• Bristol City Council - Noise complaints
• South Gloucester Council - Report a noise nuisance

Keeping a record of dates, times and the nature of the disturbance may help the council investigate.

Waste, litter and fly-tipping

Report missed waste collections, overflowing bins, fly-tipping and environmental enforcement to the relevant local authority.

Bristol City Council

• Report a street that needs cleaning
• Bins, recycling and litter: complaints and feedback

South Gloucestershire Council

• Report a problem with litter or dog fouling 

Landlords and letting agents

Contact the landlord or letting agent if the concern relates to property management, a tenancy or the landlord’s responsibilities.

Report a concern informally

If it feels safe and appropriate, you may be able to resolve a concern by speaking to your neighbours or contacting their landlord or letting agent. You do not need to do this before contacting the police, council or another responsible organisation. Many issues can be resolved quickly when concerns are raised early and constructively.

UWE Bristol Community Liaison Team

The UWE Bristol Community Liaison Team is the first point of contact within the University when a community concern involving UWE Bristol students is reported. It is not an immediate response service, so if your concern needs action, report it to the organisation with the appropriate powers, such as the police or the relevant local council.

If a concern involves UWE Bristol students, we encourage you to email our Community Liaison Team even if you have also contacted the police, a local council, a landlord or a letting agent. This helps us record concerns, identify repeated issues and consider appropriate action through our community liaison and Student Conduct processes.

Email community@uwe.ac.uk and include as much of the following information as you can:

• the address or location of the concern
• the dates and times
• what happened
• any relevant evidence or reference numbers
• whether you have reported the concern to another organisation

The mailbox is monitored and triaged during normal business hours, Monday to Friday.

Reporting anonymously

You can report a concern anonymously. Anonymous information can help us identify patterns or locations where concerns are recurring, but it may be more difficult for us to investigate or take formal action if we cannot verify the information.

Out-of-hours concerns

If a concern occurs outside normal business hours, contact the organisation with the appropriate powers to respond. For anti-social behaviour, disorder or criminal activity, call the police on 101, or 999 if there is an immediate risk or emergency. Report noise nuisance through the relevant local authority.

UWE Campus Support

UWE Campus Support supports the safety, security and operation of University campuses and premises. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

It is separate from UWE Police and is not an in-the-moment response service for noise complaints or other community concerns at private residential properties.

Residents can telephone UWE Campus Support, including outside normal business hours, but staff will provide the same guidance set out on this page: contact the police or relevant local council if action is needed at the time, and email the Community Liaison Team if the concern involves UWE Bristol students.

UWE Police

UWE Police works with the Community Liaison Team and other university services on student behaviour, community concerns and formal interventions. UWE Police generally operates during normal business hours, Monday to Friday. They may visit students or, where appropriate, refer matters for consideration under the university’s Student Conduct procedures.

They are not a substitute for contacting the police via 999 or 101 when an immediate or formal police response is required.

We expect UWE Bristol students to behave responsibly, respectfully and lawfully wherever they live, study and socialise. We want students to recognise that they are members of the wider community and that being a good neighbour is part of being a UWE Bristol student.

Students are adults and the University does not have the statutory or enforcement powers held by the police and local councils. We cannot provide an emergency response or take formal action for matters such as noise nuisance, parking or littering.

 Where students or a student household can be identified, we may:

•  contact students directly
•  provide advice, guidance or education
•  record concerns to identify repeated issues or patterns
•  consider action under the Student Conduct Policy
•  work with councils, the police, landlords, letting agents or accommodation providers.

We will review the information you provide alongside any other information available to the University. Our response will depend on the circumstances, the evidence available and whether the students involved can be identified.

We may begin with advice, education or early intervention. If a concern is serious, repeated or continues, we may consider a more formal university response or coordinate action with relevant partner organisations.

Community concerns are not always resolved by one organisation acting alone. Where appropriate, we will work with residents, councils, the police, landlords, letting agents and accommodation providers to support a coordinated response.

Our Community Liaison and Engagement Partnership Framework is designed to strengthen communication, improve coordination, clarify responsibilities and support more effective responses to community concerns.