Skip to site navigation

Accessibility Options

Font size

Colour scheme

What is anti-social behaviour?

 
According to the legal definition, anti-social behaviour is behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to others.

It is a continuous or longstanding situation in which a person or group repeatedly commits acts of abuse towards the victim. The offender is typically known to the victim.

Behaviour such as noise nuisance and other environmental crime, as well as verbal abuse and intimidation, can be deemed as anti-social behaviour.

Examples of anti-social behaviour

Some examples of behaviour that could be regarded as anti-social could include:

  • noise nuisance, such as playing loud music or slamming doors
  • using or threatening violence
  • abusive language
  • motorcycle nuisance
  • firework nuisance
  • dogs barking and  fouling
  • street or residential drug dealing
  • graffiti
  • offensive drunkenness
  • intimidation
  • vandalism.
How we tackle anti-social behaviour

Reporting anti-social behaviour

If you are a victim of, or witness to, anti-social behaviour, do report it. A record of the incidents may be useful to the investigating authorities.

How to report anti-social behaviour

Find out what happens when you make a report

ASBO and ABA

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and Acceptable Behaviour Agreements (ABAs) are two instruments that we can use to tackle anti-social behaviour.

More about ASBO and ABA

ASBO and ABA breaches and help with compliance

Related links

  • Anti-social behaviour can be motivated by prejudice or hate. If this is the case, it can be considered hate crime.
    More about hate crime

  • Safer Neighbourhoods teams are teams of police and community support officers working with other agencies and the local community to tackle long term crime and disorder issues.
    More about Safer Neighbourhoods teams

A to Z of Services