Antisocial Behaviour

What is antisocial behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour is defined as "behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person"

If your quality of life is badly affected by other people in your community, then you could be a victim of anti-social behaviour.

What causes anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour has been described as ‘a pattern of behaviour that is verbally or physically harmful to other people, animals, or property, including behaviour that severely violates social expectations for a particular environment’.

Anti-social behaviour can stem from a variety of factors such as:

• poor education
• worklessness
• ill health
• poverty and child development
• family problems

For more information on the psychological explanation for anti-social behaviour, please visit the link below 

https://psychology.jrank.org/pages/37/Antisocial-Behavior.html

Types of antisocial behaviour 

There are different types of antisocial behaviour. They are:

Noise Nuisance 

Neighbour disputes

Verbal abuse 

Threatening behaviour 

Harassment and intimidation

Vandalism

Three main areas of ASB 

There are three main categories for antisocial behaviour, depending on how many people are affected:

• Personal antisocial behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.
• Nuisance antisocial behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.
• Environmental antisocial behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings 

Examples of anti-social behaviour 

Street problems:

Intimidating others 

Being drunk

Begging

Street prostitution 

Kerb crawling

Nuisance neighbours 

Nuisance neighbours:

Gov.uk have created a handy guide to help when dealing with neighbourly disputes. You can find it online at https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes 

If a neighbour is causing you distress, try to talk to them before any action is taken.

Nuisance that includes criminal behaviour, such as damage to property or threats of violence, should be reported to the police on 101. In an emergency, phone 999

If you or your neighbour, rent your home from the council or a housing association, contact them for support, aswell as making a report to the Police. If your neighbour rents privately, you can also contact their private landlord to make them aware of anti-social behaviour.

Environmental crime:

Fly tipping 

Dropping litter 

Graffiti 

Vandalism

What effects can anti social behaviour have? 

Anyone can experience anti-social behaviour and it can effect you in many ways.

• You can't sleep
• You feel anxious and constantly on edge 
• You are frightened to go out
• You don't feel safe in your own home
• Your children are upset
• You change your routine to avoid problems
• You want to move
• You can't talk to anyone about it
• You feel that you must've done something to cause it
• You feel nothing will change and it will never end 

If you experience problems with anti-social behaviour, it is important to keep an up to date record of events. Please note the following:

Day 

Date 

Time 

Nature of the behaviour causing annoyance

This can help you to get some perspective on how often anti-social behaviour happens.  If you decide to take formal action at some stage, it can help others to see an established pattern of Nuisance over a period of time.

Please see an example of a diary log sheet below

There are various ways in which anti-social behaviour can be challenged. What is appropriate, depends on your circumstances,  your neighbours circumstances and the severity of the problem.

Speak to your neighbours and see if they are effected by the same issues. The more evidence the better when it comes to dealing with anti-social behaviour. Ask your neighbours to keep a diary log too if they have become victims of anti social behaviour.

A diary log will help to establish patterns of when anti social behaviour is happening. Even if the anti-social behaviour stops for a while and then resumes, continue with logging information about it so patterns can be demonstrated. The more evidence that you have to submit to the police or local authorities, the better.

CCTV footage 

You may have access to CCTV at your property. If those who are causing anti social behaviour are captured on CCTV, please ensure that you keep the footage as evidence. 

Please have a look at the information contained within the link below about using CCTV at your home address

https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/crime-prevention/crime-prevention-advice/cctv-domestic-property

Photographic evidence

Our local officers have advised that you can take photos of the individuals who are causing anti social behaviour.  Please ensure that any photos that are taken as evidence do not appear online across any social media. 

Photos can only be submitted to the local authorities as proof of who is involved. Please do not post photos or video evidence of who is involved for all to to see, across social media. 

Please see some examples below of what is not classed as anti-social behaviour. The examples below are classed as environmental issues. Therefore, if you do need to refer any of them, please refer them to your local council or housing association. They will be able to give you further advice 

What isn't classed as anti social behaviour 

The following types of behaviour are not classed as anti-social behaviour.

If you are effected by behaviour listed below, please refer to Telford & Wrekin Council for advice. Alternatively, please refer to the housing association that the neighbour is a tenant of for more advice.

Please visit the link below for more information on how to report environmental nuisances to Telford & Wrekin Council

https://www.telford.gov.uk/info/20290/community/1053/anti_social_behaviour

Escalation of anti-social behaviour 

Please do not ignore instances of anti social behaviour. As the graphic explains above, if noone takes any action about anti social behaviour within our community, it will appear that noone is bothered by it.

Instances of anti social behaviour will continue, which is something that we do not want.   Please ensure you report any instances of anti social behaviour as and when you become aware of them.

If our community is experiencing problems with litter or fly tipping, please report it. Reports can be made to Telford & Wrekin Council via their website or via the "Everyday Telford" app.

If litter becomes a problem within Arleston, we will arrange a community litter pick, just like we have done in the past. 

You may even want to become a Street Champion just like Paul! 

"We have a number of local residents who are already Street Champions and can be seen out Litterpicking. One of them, Paul, says he really enjoys reducing the amount of rubbish on the streets and finds it quite therapeutic to pick up litter. 

He has also met many more of his neighbours as a result and always enjoys a good friendly chat. He's also pleased to see how much the litter has reduced and how many people now join in in picking it up. Paul's ambition is to make Arleston a Litter Free Zone, enhancing the local environment. We agree with you Paul."

If we work together, our community becomes stronger 

If we all come together to address issues of anti social behaviour, our community will become stronger. In reporting instances, it will clearly demonstrate that we are passionate about addressing and resolving issues that effect us. 

Between ourselves as residents, the police and the council and other authorities, we can all work together. By working all together and not against one another, it will help our community to become stronger. It will improve relationships between us.

Reporting ASB 

Please ensure that you report any instances of anti social behaviour.

For personal or nuisance anti social behaviour that has already happened, please report it to the Police via 101. 

If you are experiencing an environmental issue, this needs to be reported to our local council.

If you are effected by anti social behaviour caused by a tenant of The Wrekin Housing Group, there is some useful information in the link below

https://www.wrekin.com/Pages/Handbook-Antisocial-Behaviour/antisocial-behaviour

If the individual is a tenant with Bromford Housing, please visit the link below 

https://www.bromford.co.uk/customer-area/my-community/report-a-problem-in-your-neighbourhood/

Why should you report anti social behaviour?

Please ensure that any instances of anti-social behaviour are reported. If we all report and speak up to the relevant authority, they will be able to establish who is responsible and hot spots of where anti social behaviour is taking place. 

If instances go unreported, nothing will get done. So please don't turn a blind eye to anti social behaviour, please report it as soon as you become aware of it taking place.

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