What is anti-social behaviour?
The Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 defines anti-social behaviour as:
“Behaviour likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress to any person."
This covers a wide range of unacceptable behaviour that can have a negative effect on an individual or the wider community the Council look to resolve.
Examples of anti-social behaviour:
- Street drinking, begging and associated negative behaviour.
- Youth related anti-social behaviour.
- Neighbour nuisance
- Fly posting.
What is not classed as anti-social behaviour:
- Children playing in the street/in gardens.
- Young people gathering socially.
- Being unable to park outside your own home.
- A clash of lifestyles including cultural differences or different working patterns
- A one-off party or event
- General living noise
- Criminal activity such as drugs/violence
- Planning disputes
Who do I contact if I am affected?
It is important you report anti-social behaviour to the agencies best equipped to deal with your concerns:
All criminal behaviour including drug use and drug dealing, threats, violence and harassment should be reported to the Police. If it is an emergency, then call 999, in a non-emergency situation you can contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or online at www.warwickshire.police.uk/reportasb
If you live in a social housing property or are affected by someone living in a social housing property please contact the relevant housing association, contact details can be found below:
If you want to report music, noise nuisance, or persistent dog barking please report it to our Environmental Health Team
This Council is responsible for co-ordinating action to tackle anti-social behaviour. Two Anti-Social Behaviour Officers are employed in Stratford-on-Avon District Council.
You can report your concerns online here or phone Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Contact Centre on: 01789 267575
What action can be taken?
In South Warwickshire, we believe in the effectiveness of early intervention and operate a tiered response tailored to the particular circumstances of the anti-social behaviour. We employ a wide range of interventions that have proved effective in addressing anti-social behaviour, the most common of which are:
- Advisory and warning letters that are sent to perpetrators or their guardians outlining the unacceptable behaviour and warning that further action will follow should the behaviour continue.
- Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs): voluntary but formal documents signed by the perpetrator committing to stop behaving in an unacceptable way.
- Community protection notices, to stop the conduct of an individual or body having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality.
- Civil injunctions, to stop a person responsible from engaging in anti-social behaviour to any person.
- Criminal Behaviour Order: the offender has caused anti-social behaviour and been convicted of a criminal offence.
What minimum standard of service can I expect?
The council is dedicated to a multi-agency approach to reducing the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour and the fear of anti-social behaviour.
We will ensure that:
- Reports of anti-social behaviour are treated seriously, and all individuals are treated fairly with dignity and respect.
- Victims of anti-social behaviour are given as much support as possible, and where appropriate referred to support agencies.
- Where appropriate, offenders are offered support to help change their behaviour.
- Anti-social behaviour reports are recorded and investigated, where appropriate, and victims and witnesses are kept informed of key actions.
- We deal promptly and effectively with any problem reported to us or we pass it to an organisation that we consider may be more effective in resolving the issue.
- All relevant agencies co-operate in addressing any issues of anti-social behaviour; sharing information where necessary and appropriate while adopting a multi-agency problem-solving approach.
- We adopt an early intervention approach, and we work together with all other agencies, making full use of the tools and powers available to us.
