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Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

Anti-social behaviour can be anything that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons. It is a negative behaviour covering a whole complex of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of life of the individual or community. Under no circumstances should this behaviour be tolerated.

Examples include:

• Nuisance neighbours;
• Yobbish behaviour and intimidating groups taking over public spaces;
• Vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting;
• People dealing and buying drugs on the street;
• People dumping rubbish and abandoned cars;
• Begging;
• Anti-social drinking;
• Noise nuisances caused by the misuse of fireworks;
• Threatening behaviour;
• Civil disputes;
• Racial Disputes;
• Verbal harassment;
• Lack of control over pets;
• Reckless driving of mini-motorbikes.

In some circumstance you calmly talking to the person responsible can resolve the issues. However, if it is unable to resolve then it is important that you tell someone, so measures can be implemented. Your assistance in recording and monitoring the behaviour will be crucial if any organisation is to take up the matter on your behalf.  Therefore, when reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour, it is helpful if you have specific details about what happened, when an incident took place and, if more than once, how often: where the incident took place, who was involved and how you and others were affected by it.

There are a number of organisations who will be able to help resolve an issue if the behaviour persist. 

• Anti-social Behaviour Unit – cases are referred to the unit if the person has been causing a persistent nuisance and all other avenues have been exhausted
• Borough Councils:

Housing department- if the person who is causing the problem is a council tenant.
Environmental health department – this is the organisation you need to contact for persistent noise nuisance, air pollution or public health issues.
Community safety department – if you are unsure who to report a problem to contact your local community safety officer

• Housing Association or private tenant - likewise, if the person or property involved is private-rented accommodation, then contact the landlords direct.
• Local Police – if the matter is of a criminal nature, or if the behaviour is racial or homophobic then your local Hates Crime Unit should be the first point of call.

The action taken all depends on the seriousness of the complaint, but all options will be discussed with you at the time of your complaint.

Every complaint is taken seriously.

Your local Safer Community Team can also offer support and advice on anti-social behaviour. Working with other partner agencies they are able to take visible action to provide long-term solutions, addressing the issues behind the behaviour.

Remember that we want to help!

For more information on how you and your community can make a stand against anti-social behaviour visit www.respect.gov.uk or contact your local Safer Community Team on 08453 700700.

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