Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable in their home and neighbourhood. If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour (ASB), we are here to help. This page explains what ASB is, how to report it and where to find support.

Need to report ASB?

What is anti-social behaviour (ASB)?

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others.

Examples of ASB may include:

Threatening or intimidating behaviour
Harassment or abuse
Hate-related incidents
Drug-related activity
Criminal damage or vandalism
Persistent nuisance behaviour
Noise nuisance that is excessive and ongoing
Violence or threats of violence

Every case is assessed individually and we work with residents and partner agencies to investigate reports and take appropriate action where evidence supports it.

What is not usually considered ASB?

Not every disagreement between neighbours is classed as anti-social behaviour.

Examples that would not normally be treated as ASB include:

Children playing
Everyday household noise
Cooking smells
Babies crying
One-off incidents
Minor parking disputes
Differences in lifestyle or routine

If you are unsure whether something should be reported, please contact us for advice.

Reporting anti-social behaviour

If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour, please report it as soon as possible.

When making a report, please tell us:

What happened
When it happened
Where it happened
Who was involved (if known)
Whether there were any witnesses
Any evidence you have available

Report ASB

Emergencies

If a crime is taking place or there is an immediate risk to someone’s safety:

Call 999 in an emergency
Call 101 for non-emergency police matters

What can I do if I am experiencing ASB?

There are several things you can do to help us investigate your case.

Keep a record

Make a note of:

Dates and times
What happened
Who was involved
How the incident affected you

Gather evidence

Where appropriate, keep:

Photographs
Videos
Audio recordings
Witness details
Crime reference numbers

Report incidents promptly

The sooner incidents are reported, the easier it is for us and partner agencies to investigate.

Consider informal resolution

In some situations, a calm conversation with your neighbour may resolve the issue. However, you should never approach someone if you feel unsafe.

What happens after I report ASB?

We take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously.

Once we receive your report, we will:

Review the information provided
Assess the seriousness of the case
Contact you if further information is needed
Agree next steps with you
Work with partner agencies where appropriate
Keep you informed about progress

The action we take will depend on the circumstances of the case and the evidence available.

ASB Case Review (Community Trigger)

If you have reported anti-social behaviour on several occasions and feel that the problem has not been resolved, you may be able to request an ASB Case Review, also known as the Community Trigger.

The Community Trigger gives victims of persistent anti-social behaviour the right to request a review of how agencies have responded to their reports.

A review may involve organisations such as: