What is anti-social behaviour?
The term anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of selfish
and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of community
life. Terms such as ‘nuisance’, ‘disorder’ and ‘harassment’ are
also used to describe some of this behaviour.
Examples include:
· Nuisance neighbours
· Yobbish behaviour and intimidating groups taking over public
spaces
· Vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting
· People dealing and buying drugs on the street
· People dumping rubbish and abandoned cars
· Begging and anti-social drinking
· The misuse of fireworks
· Reckless driving of mini-motorbikes.
A legal definition of
anti-social behaviour is found in the Crime and Disorder Act 1988.
The Act describes anti-social behaviour as 'acting in an
anti-social manner as a manner that caused or was likely to cause
harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the
same household as the complainant'.
Tackling ASB is about recognising the impact that the behaviour has
on victims and the community, as well as looking at the factors
that cause such behaviour. All agencies involved in tackling
ASB must adopt an approach that recognises and validates the
genuine fear of local people. It is crucial to consult with members
of the community and young people, as well as key local agencies,
to establish clear criteria for what constitutes
ASB.