Antisocial 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 antisocial 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.
Community Trigger information
Responding to and tackling antisocial behaviour and hate motivated incidents are a top priority for County Durham and Darlington. We have strong procedures which allow the police, council, housing providers, other organisations and communities to work in partnership with each other to tackle anti-social behaviour and hate incidents.
We want to make sure we get it right first time, but recognise that sometimes we don’t.
What is Community Trigger?
The community trigger gives victims and communities the right to expect action is taken where an ongoing problem has not been addressed. It helps us and you by making sure that no-one suffering the harmful effects of anti-social behaviour and hate crime falls through the net. It will also ensure that all that can be done is being done.
If someone has reported antisocial behaviour but no action has been taken, you will be able to tell us about it under the Community Trigger.
The reporting threshold is:
- You have reported three or more incidents relating to the same problem in the past six months to the council, police or your landlord, and no action has been taken.
Or
- At least five people have made reports about the same problem in the past 6 months to the council, police or their landlord and no action has been taken.
Or
- One incident or crime motivated by hate in the last three months and no action has been taken.
What is meant by no action taken?
The reported problems have not been acknowledged – i.e. no one contacted you to advise what action would be taken.
- The reported problems have not been appropriately investigated.
- Your vulnerability and/or the potential for harm has not been considered and this has affected potential service delivery.
- No action has been taken because information has not been shared between partners and this has affected potential service delivery.
What is not suitable for a Community Trigger?
- If someone has reported antisocial behaviour and received a service but the problems are ongoing;
Contact the agency you are working with to tell them what is happening.
- If you have reported antisocial behaviour and received a service but you’re unhappy with the service received or action taken;
Submit a complaint under the agency’s complaints procedures.
Application process
If you think that your issue or concern is relevant to the Community Trigger and meets the criteria please download and complete the attached PDF document and send by email to community.trigger@durham.police.uk