Anti social behaviour and nuisance
'Anti-social behaviour' has a very broad definition. It includes many types of activity that are anti-social in nature and includes behaviour that may or may not be criminal, but which seriously impairs the quality of life of local people. Anti-social behaviour can mean different things to different people from serious acts of violence to noise from neighbours, litter or graffiti.
In the most recent British Crime Survey, respondents named vandalism and property damage as the most serious anti-social behaviour issues in their area. Environmental crime can include:
- Fly-Tipping: dumping household or commercial rubbish in private or communal areas
- Littering: deliberately dropping litter on the streets
- Graffiti: spray painting, or otherwise marking private property or communal areas (bus shelters & houses)
- Vandalism: damaging private property or communal facilities like telephone boxes or playground equipment
Other issues that fall under the definition of anti-social behaviour include:
- Intimidation/harassment
- Drunkenness and underage drinking and illegal sales of alcohol
- Public drug dealing
- Criminal damage or deliberate damage to private property
- Neighbour noise
- Noise and disturbance in the street
- Unsolicited doorstep calls from dishonest traders
- Abandoned and burnt out cars
- Animal related nuisance eg. dog fouling, noise from barking
The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour as 'acting in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as themselves.
Central Bedfordshire Council goes one step further and classifies anti social behaviour as:
“Behaviour causing disturbance, distress, harm or fear which has a significant effect on people’s lifestyles or routines. Persistence, intensity and the numbers being involved are relevant factors. The behaviour need not be a breach of criminal law.”
Differing acts of anti-social behaviour may or may not be criminal, but certainly includes behaviour that puts people in fear of crime.
The council has many powers to tackle many anti-social behaviours an example of which is the power to designate an area as an alcohol free zone. To find out more, please follow this internal link.
How can I report anti-social behaviour?
Some people may feel uneasy in reporting incidents of anti-social behaviour to the Council. They often fear that things may get worse if the person causing the problem finds out that they have made a complaint.
The Council will not take any action or speak to anyone else about the problem without agreeing this with you first. All reports made to the Council are treated in the strictest of confidence.
Many agencies are involved in tackling anti-social behaviour and it may be necessary, depending on the subject of the report which you wish to make, to refer the complaint to one of our partner agencies for investigation. You will be advised if this is the case.
Minimum Service Standards
The Central Bedfordshire Community Safety Partnership have agreed a set of minimum standards a victim can expect when reporting an incident of anti-social behaviour. These Minimum Standards describe the minimum level of service a victim can expect.
View the Anti-Social Behaviour Minimum Service Standards Document (application/pdf; 49kB)
Contact Us
If you are a victim of anti-social behaviour, you can contact your local Anti-social Behaviour Reduction Coordinator, who will be able to offer help or advice.