Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is any behaviour that is aggressive, intimidating or destructive that damages or destroys another person’s quality of life.
Examples can include:
- Rowdy, noisy behaviour including shouting and yelling close to people’s homes
- Littering and fly-tipping rubbish
- Groups of teenagers hanging round the streets, paths and shops
- Drinking alcohol, being drunk or rowdy in a public place
- Playing loud music
- Climbing on roofs or property that does not belong to you
- Riding mopeds or scooters through estates and on paths
- Abandoning cars on the street
- Vandalism and graffiti
- Use of an imitation weapon, like a BB gun, in a public place
- Setting off fireworks late at night
Many of these points are criminal offences and can and do result in prosecution or arrest.
People of all ages become involved in ASB; it doesn’t just make life unpleasant but can ruin lives and make areas feel unsafe.
Is it really anti-social behaviour?
Antisocial behaviour does mean different things to different people and many of the complaints made to the police are often not cases of anti-social behaviour.
For example, a group of young people meeting on a street corner is not anti-social. However, if they started to let off fireworks, damage a property or be abusive to residents then this behaviour is anti-social.
If in doubt, the police and council are here to help. To contact the police please call the non-emergency 101 number and ask for advice.
It's not just young people
There is a common misconception that it is just young people who commit anti-social behaviour, but in fact there are many adults who are abuse, reckless and commit these offences. This makes other members of the community feel threatened and unsafe.
Antisocial behaviour at any age is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by the police or local authorities.
Durham Constabulary understands the devastating consequences antisocial behaviour can have within our communities and has both a 'Vulnerable Victims Policy' and an 'Offender Escalation Policy'. Both documents detail how the police and our partners from Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council will work together to protect vulnerable and repeat victims and deal with the perpetrators of anti-social behavour.
ASB case review
Where there have been three or more previous reports of anti-social behaviour:
The Anti-Social Behaviour Case Review gives victims and communities the right to request a review of their case where the local threshold is met. The local threshold has been agreed by the local Community Safety Partnerships and has been designed to give you, the victim, the right to demand that agencies deal with persistent anti-social behaviour.
If you have previously reported three (or more) incidents of anti-social behaviour within the last six months and the anti-social behaviour continues, you can request a case review.
Upon receipt of a case review request, the case will be reviewed within 5 working days to determine the number of qualifying complaints. You or your nominated representative will be informed of the outcome within 10 working days.
If the local threshold is not met, consideration will be given to the persistency of the anti-social behaviour, the harm or potential harm caused, and the adequacy of the response from the agencies. If your case is considered high risk, you may also qualify for a case review.
What happens next?
In County Durham and Darlington, Anti-Social Behaviour Case Reviews are co-ordinated by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner who will:
- Acknowledge receipt of your Case Review request
- Contact you to discuss your case and obtain further information
- Liaise with the relevant Community Safety Partnerships
- Share information with agencies who are responsible for managing anti-social behaviour
- Record and publish relevant data relating to Anti-Social Behaviour Case Reviews
If the threshold is met, you will be offered support from the Victims Care and Advice Service, who will be able to guide you through the process. An Independent Chair will be appointed to lead a multi-agency case review which will be held within 10 working days after confirmation of the threshold being met. The case review will bring together relevant agencies to take a joined up, problem-solving approach to find a solution.
They will share relevant information related to your case, review what action has been previously taken and decide further actions and timescales.
You or your representative will be given the opportunity to attend the opening section of the case review meeting to express your wishes as to what you would like to happen and to ensure all members of the panel understand the level of harm and impact. Alternatively, if you are unable or do not wish to attend the case review you can provide a written statement which will be read out.
Following the meeting an action plan will be produced (including timescales) and you will be provided with a written copy, within five working days.
If you remain dissatisfied, you will have up to 14 days following the completion of your action plan in which to appeal.
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