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.

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

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.

28 January 2025