Anti-Social Behaviour

What is anti-social behaviour?

The Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines anti-social behaviour to be that which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people not in the same household.

The most common types of anti-social behaviour are as follows:

Noise nuisance

Noisy neighbours - Barking dogs - Loud Music

Youth related anti-social behaviour

Graffiti / vandalism - verbal / physical abuse - motorbikes / mopeds on footpaths - underage drinking

Harassment

Intimidation / groups gathering - abusive language or behaviour - violence or the threat of violence

Rubbish dumping

Fly tipping - storing of rubbish in gardens - disposal of rubbish in communal areas

Vehicle nuisance

Excessive noise from vehicles - abandoned vehicles.

What is not considered Anti-Social Behaviour

• Noise from children playing
• Personal differences
• Family disputes
• Overgrown gardens
• Boundary disputes
• Normal living noises, such as flushing toilets and closing doors
• DIY, unless it is at unreasonable times of the day
• Small groups of youths not acting in an intimidating manner
• Youths gathering in places which will not cause a disturbance
• Youths playing football in parks / green spaces
• Throwing snowballs in a manner that does not cause harm to an individual or property

What we do

Swindon Community Safety Partnership understands it is important to ensure communities feel safe in their neighbourhoods.

The Partnership’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit co-ordinates the response to anti-social behaviour by adopting a multi-agency approach and using the various measures available to them.  These can be found on the Tools and Powers to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour page.

Swindon has been acknowledged by the Home Office as a best practice area for tackling anti-social behaviour.

However, we cannot do this alone and need the help and support of communities and those people affected by anti-social behaviour.

Report anti-social behaviour:

• See the Swindon Borough Council website StreetSmart section (www.swindon.gov.uk/streetsmart).
• Police Non-Emergency - 0845 408 7000

Other useful contacts:

• Community Mediation - 01793 527285
• Victim Support in Wiltshire - 01380 738888
• Education Welfare Service (reporting truancy) - 01793 465797