Antisocial behaviour - Frequently asked questions

What is considered antisocial behaviour?

1. Loud or persistent noises
2. Verbal abusive or threatening behaviour
3. Damage to property or graffiti
4. Drug or alcohol related nuisance
5. Fly tipping or littering
6. Harassment or intimidation
7. Aggressive or uncontrolled pets
8. Deliberate fire setting
9. Vehicle nuisance

What is NOT considered antisocial behaviour?

1. Everyday noises such as children playing, babies crying or vacuuming
2. Personality clashes, disagreements on social media or minor personal disputes
3. Cooking smells or cigarette smoke
4. People walking around their homes
5. Occasional DIY during reasonable hours
6. A single loud party or BBQ
7. Inconsiderate parking (unless blocking access or illegal), disputes over property boundaries, or being unable to park outside your own home

While the above are generally not considered ASB, they can become ASB if they are persistent, severe, or intentional, or if they cause significant harassment, alarm, or distress.

How can I report ASB?

There are several different agencies who work to tackle anti-social behaviour, the main three being:

• Police: You can report anti-social behaviour to the police on 101 (or 999 if you are at immediate risk of harm). There is also an online reporting tool should you not wish to talk on the phone initially. You can also speak to your local Neighbourhood Officer or PCSO in confidence.
• Local Authority: Both West Northamptonshire Council & North Northamptonshire Council have online ASB reporting tools on their websites.
• Housing Associations: Many housing officers are trained to deal with reports of ASB in the same way specialised ASB practitioners are.

Can I report ASB anonymously?

Yes, you can report ASB to the above agencies anonymously. You can also report anonymously via the Crime Stoppers website or call 0800 555 111. Anonymous reports can be harder for authorities to act on as they cannot take statements or use you as a witness. Provide as much specific detail as possible, such as times, locations and descriptions.

Will my complaint be kept confidential?

Yes, ASB reports are treated as confidential by councils, housing associations, and the police. Authorities will not disclose your personal details to the person you are complaining about without your permission.

What evidence should I provide?

When reporting anti-social behaviour (ASB) to the police, local council or a housing association, providing detailed and structured evidence is crucial to support agencies to take positive action. Examples of helpful evidence are:

• A detailed diary of events: A record containing dates, times, descriptions of incidents, and the specific impact on your life.
• Photos and video recordings: Footage from CCTV, doorbell cameras or mobile phones, securely gathered.
• Audio recordings: Specifically for noise complaints, using recordings or a dedicated noise app.
• Witness details: Names and addresses of any neighbours or individuals who witnessed the behaviour.
• Physical evidence: Copies of threatening letters, emails, or screenshots of social media messages.
• Reference numbers: A list of any previous reports made to the police or council.

How long does it take to resolve?

ASB cases can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to resolve.  Each incident is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.  All agencies work to ensure that cases are resolved as quickly as they can be.

What actions are taken against ASB?

Actions taken against anti-social behaviour include a mix of early intervention, legal enforcement, and environmental measures. Below is an example of actions designed to protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable:

• Civil injunctions: Available for ages 10+, these can prohibit a person from entering a specific area or engaging in certain actions, or require them to take positive steps (e.g., attending training or various courses).
• Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs): Issued after a conviction, these target persistent offenders and can restrict their activities, with breaches leading to fines or imprisonment.
• Community Protection Notices (CPNs): Used to stop ongoing environmental ASB (like noise or litter) by individuals or businesses.
• Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs): These apply to everyone in a specific designated public area, such as town centres, to stop nuisances such as drinking alcohol.
• Dispersal powers: Allows police to direct people to leave a specific area for up to 48 hours to prevent harassment or distress.
• Closure Orders: Allows agencies to close premises (like a house used for drug activity) for up to 6 months
• Warnings and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs): Often the first step, these are voluntary agreements, particularly for young people.
• Possession proceedings and eviction: Landlords can seek to evict tenants engaged in serious or persistent ASB, usually as a last resort
• Mediation: Used for neighbour disputes to resolve issues before they escalate.
• Community trigger (ASB case review): Victims can demand a review of their case if they have reported three or more incidents to the police, council, or landlord within six months without satisfactory action.
• Repairing damage/restorative action: Perpetrators repair damage to the community, such as cleaning up graffiti, repairing damage to property or litter picking.
• Hotspot enforcement: Increased police and council patrols in specific areas where ASB is most common

What is an ASB case review?

An ASB case review empowers repeat victims of anti-social behaviour to ask for a review of the actions partner agencies ( including police, local authorities, health teams and housing teams) have taken to resolve their concerns. To be eligible, you need to have experienced three incidents of ASB as an individual in the last six months.

Each of the incidents needs to have been reported within one month of them taking place and you must apply for case review within six months of the latest incident. The victim can be a business, individual or a community group.

An ASB case review is NOT a complaints procedure against a single officer, but a review of how the case was dealt with in its entirety.

To apply you should search ASB case review (previously known as a Community Trigger) on your local authority website.