Anti-social behaviour

What is anti-social behaviour (ASB)?

Anti-social behaviour is defined as any action that causes harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people not of the same household. It describes behaviour that threatens or harms another individual or groups of individuals.

Some examples of anti-social behaviour include but are not excluded to:

  • Nuisance or inconsiderate neighbours
  • Street drinking
  • Using property for illegal use such as loitering or drug use
  • Damage to the environment including littering or dumping of rubbish
  • Vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting
  • Begging for money
  • Misuse of fireworks
  • Inconsiderate use of vehicles including joy riding or abandoning vehicles.

Anti-social behaviour on council housing property

Unfortunately, sometimes our tenants and leaseholders are the victim or perpetrators of ASB. For information about our approach to ASB in our council estates and properties see our anti-social behaviour policy and Housing Services anti-social behaviour service standards

Reporting anti-social behaviour online

All reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) are dealt with in confidence. When appropriate we discuss the complaint with the person whom it is about, but only if you agree to this.

To take action against Anti-social behaviour you will need evidence. We will need you to help us collect this evidence. You can complete diary sheets which outlines: who, what and when incidents happen.

When you submit a report online there are a few things that may happen including:

  • a letter of warning to the perpetrators
  • patrols by the local Safer Neighbourhood Team or other Police teams
  • Community Protection Notices which requires an action to be taken or something to stop. In this instance, a fixed penalty notice or prosecution can occur if breached.
  • a civil injunction which is a court order that requires a person to do or stop doing a specific action
  • a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). PSPOs are a set of local conditions based on evidence of ASB. For example, street drinking, groups gathering or dogs off the lead
  • a Criminal Behaviour Order (which used to be known as an ASBO)
  • or closure of premises.

Before you start

To report anti-social behaviour online you will need:

  • details of the incident(s) including days and times
  • information about the people involved
  • any witness information you may have.

Report anti-social behaviour

Community Remedies

A Community Remedy is a list of actions that can be used by the police. These are in response to low level crime and ASB such as;

  • Low level criminal damage
  • Low value theft
  • Anti-social behaviour (where no crime has been committed).

The list will give victims a say in how the offender is dealt with out of court. An example includes fixing the damage, attending mediation, or undertaking unpaid work.

Community Trigger

A Community Trigger gives victims and communities the right to request a review of their ASB complaint.

The local Community Safety Partnership (CSP) will complete the review.  The CSP is a collective of agencies which:

  • share information
  • review what action has been taken
  • decides whether more actions are possible or required.

When you can submit a Community Trigger

You can submit a Community Trigger if you:

  • have complained about three separate but related ASB incidents and you
  • consider no action has been taken.

These criteria must be met before you can submit a Community Trigger.

Before you start

To submit a Community Trigger you will need to:

What happens next?

We will pass your report to the relevant agency for assessment within two working days. The agency will determine whether the criteria has been met. They will then accept or reject the Community Trigger.

The agency will contact you in either circumstance to inform you of the decision.

Where the Community Trigger is accepted, a panel will agree how the case review will be carried out. Any action plan agreed will be shared with you via your Community Safety Officer.