Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

A person can receive up to 2, sometimes 3 warning letters. These letters will provide a description of the anti-social behaviour that has been committed. If this warning letter is breached and the anti-social behaviour continues, then this can become an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC). In some cases, if the anti-social behaviour is severe, then the step of warning letters will be skipped entirely.

An Acceptable Behaviour Contract will be drawn up to address anti-social behaviours that are causing nuisance to others or within the community. This will have to be signed by the person displaying the anti-social behaviour and their trusted adult if it is a young person. An Acceptable Behaviour Contract stays with that person for 6 months, and if it is breached, that young person can then be referred to Youth Offending Services.

If a young person's anti-social behaviour continues, they may be referred to Youth Offending Services (YOS). YOS can offer a number of interventions, including:

• Creating an environment to enable the young person to apologise to those they have caused nuisance and distress.
• Restorative Justice.
• Undertake a victim course to help the young person recognise the impact of their anti-social behaviour.

If the person's anti-social behaviour continues at this stage, they may be summoned to court where they can received injunctions and curfews, preventing them from going to specific areas.

The next stage of law enforcement is a Community Protection Warning. This is a document that must be signed by the person committing the anti-social behaviour and their trusted adult if they are a young person. The document outlines particular behaviours which are against the law.

A Community Protection Notice (CPN) is a final warning before criminal charges are given. Similar to a CPW, it is a document that must be signed by the person committing the anti-social behaviour and their trusted adult if they are a young person. It outlines particular behaviours which are not acceptable and against the law.

Following all other stages, if the person's anti-social behaviour continues, they will face a Criminal Behaviour Order. This is presented to that person in court, and its aim is to tackle to most serious and persistent offenders of anti-social behaviour.