Anti-social behaviour

What is anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour is a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance and annoyance, or harm and distress to a person. It's a wide range of unacceptable activity, and includes things like:- 

• Noise – including loud music, banging, DIY at unsocial hours, loud parties, frequent visitors at unsocial hours (NB we at Crimestoppers cannot take information about noise complaints - only your local authority can deal with these. Find my local authority).
  
• Shouting, swearing and fighting.
• Intimidation through threats or actual violence.
• Harassment.
• Verbal abuse.
• Abusive behaviour aimed at causing distress or fear to certain people; for example, elderly or disabled people
• Driving in an inconsiderate or careless way; for example, drivers congregating in an area for racing/car cruising.
• Dumping rubbish.
• Animal nuisance, including dog fouling, dogs barking.
• Vandalism, property damage and graffiti.
• Anti social drinking.
• Arson.

Anti-social behaviour can ruin people's lives and devastate their communities.

There is a fine line between anti-social behaviour and neighbour disputes, which can often begin over relatively minor inconveniences such as parking. However, if they persist, they can potentially become anti-social behaviour. 

What anti-social behaviour isn't

The following behaviours are not officially classed as anti-social:

• Parking (including badly parked vehicles).
• Children playing.
• Neighbours doing DIY (at reasonable times of the day).
• Groups of people in the street or in parks, unless they are being rowdy, abusive, causing damage or committing other crimes.
• Noise caused by everyday living.
• Religious or cultural practice.
• A one-off party.
• General living noise.

How to report anti-social behaviour

We at Crimestoppers can only take information about anti-social behaviour if it is serious, criminal or causing a risk to a person.

Otherwise, if you would like to report anti-social behaviour, your local authority (find my local authority), social housing landlords and the police all have powers to deal with your report.

It is important that you keep a record of the incidents and the behaviour, as this will be of great help in investigating the behaviour and tackling it.

Social housing
If you are a tenant or a leaseholder of a social housing landlord, then contact your landlord to report the issues.

Private sector
If you are in private rented accommodation or a homeowner, you can contact your local authority who have dedicated personnel who deal with anti-social behaviour.

The police
Regardless of tenure, you can also contact the police.

Remember - unless the anti-social behaviour is serious, criminal or causing a risk to a person, then in the first instance you should contact either your local authority (find my local authority), your social housing landlord or the police.

Anonymous reporting
We have a 100% anonymous reporting service for all types of criminal behaviour. If you are not a victim of a crime, you can contact us on 0800 555 111 or through our online form, here on our website.

Anti-social behaviour training and support

• Are you a victim of anti-social behaviour? Visit ASB HELP for effective support, including the Community Trigger, where if you (or others) have reported an incident three or more times within a six-month period and not received a satisfactory response, you can activate the Community Trigger (also known as ASB Case Review) through your local authority. 
• Resolve ASB is the UK's leading organisation specialising in delivering effective solutions to anti-social behaviour. They are a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help those involved in the social housing sector to deal positively with anti-social behaviour and thereby empower their communities.