The legal definition of antisocial behaviour is:
a) conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress, to any person,
b) conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises, or
c) conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Act 2014
| Definitions |
|---|
| Harassment is aggressive pressure or intimidation of an individual. E.g., being verbally abused |
| Alarm is anxious awareness of danger/ makes (someone) feel frightened, disturbed or in danger |
| Distress is extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain / causing (someone) the feelings of anxiety, sorrow, or pain |
| Nuisance is something or someone that annoys or causes trouble for someone |
| Annoyance is the feeling of being slightly angry |
*Within the definition, there is certain legal criteria we need to evidence and reach.
But what does this mean?
Antisocial behaviour covers many types of behaviour that vary in nature and severity, many of which are open to interpretation.
Each report is assessed to determine whether it is anti-social behaviour, by reviewing all available information. If it is not anti-social behaviour it will not be dealt with as such and the complainant will be advised of the reasons why.
When investigated as anti-social behaviour, the action taken must be both reasonable and proportionate, taking into account all the facts of the complaint and the victim. There will often be difficult decisions to make at times, which may mean that the action taken is not considered adequate by the victim. However, the reasons why decisions have been made in all circumstances will be explained.
Types of antisocial behaviour
There are three main types of antisocial behaviour. These are:
- Personal
- Nuisance
- Environmental
Personal ASB
These are usually incidences that deliberately target an individual or group of people, rather than the community. For example:
- Intimidation
- Harassment
- Violence or threats of violence
- Abusive or insulting behaviour
Nuisance ASB
These are usually incidences that affect the community, rather than an individual victim. This is when an act, thing or person causes the community trouble, annoyance, inconvenience or suffering. For example:
- Drug or substance misuse
- Vehicle nuisance (noise, damage, abandonment)
- Animal-related problems
- Noise nuisance
Environmental ASB
These are incidences when individuals or groups impact their wider surroundings. It includes environmental damage and the misuse of public spaces or buildings. For example:
- Accumulations of waste
- Littering
- Fly-tipping
- Filthy/verminous conditions
The topics and behaviours listed may fall into more than one category of antisocial behaviour.