Anti-social behaviour and nuisance
Everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable in their home and neighbourhood. We will provide support and assistance to residents who are affected by anti-social behaviour, harassment, noise or nuisance, and we will take action where appropriate.
We work closely with the police, Environmental Health and other partner agencies to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour and to protect residents and communities.
Our Anti-Social Behaviour Policy explains what you can expect from us and how we respond to reports.
What we mean by anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause:
- harassment, alarm or distress
- nuisance or annoyance to others in their home or neighbourhood
This can include things like serious noise nuisance, intimidation, harassment, threats, hate-related incidents, criminal damage, or behaviour that puts people at risk.
Some behaviour, while frustrating, is not normally classed as anti-social behaviour, such as:
- everyday living noise (for example doors closing, children playing, household appliances)
- one-off or occasional disturbances
- neighbour disputes about boundaries, smells or lifestyles
We will always assess each report carefully and fairly.
What we will do
When you report anti-social behaviour, we will:
- assess the information you give us and decide how serious and urgent it is
- respond within set timescales, depending on the level of risk
- give your case a reference number and a named officer where appropriate
- work with partner agencies if needed, including the police
- keep your information confidential and handle it in line with data protection laws
- keep in contact with you and explain what action we are taking
We aim to resolve issues at the earliest stage possible. This may include advice, warnings, mediation or support. Where behaviour is serious or persistent, we can use legal powers as a last resort.
Emergencies and criminal behaviour
We are not an emergency service.
If there is:
- an immediate risk of harm
- violence or serious threats
- criminal behaviour such as drug dealing
you should contact the police straight away. We will work with them as part of any wider response.
What we need from you
To help us investigate anti-social behaviour, we may need:
- clear details of what is happening
- dates, times and locations
- information about how it is affecting you
- your willingness to engage with us during the investigation
Anonymous reports can only be investigated where enough information or evidence is provided.
Report anti-social behaviour
If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour or nuisance, please report it to us as soon as possible via our Report anti-social behaviour page.