Archive Website of the UK government

What is anti-social behaviour?

Anti-social behaviour includes things such as:

• rowdy, noisy behaviour in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods
• night time noise from houses or gardens, especially between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am
• threatening, drunken or 'yobbish' behaviour
• vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting
• dealing or buying drugs on the street
• litter and fly-tipping rubbish
• aggressive begging
• drinking in the street
• setting off fireworks late at night
• abandoning cars on the street

Anti-social behaviour doesn't just make life unpleasant. It can ruin lives and make whole areas feel unsafe.

If you encounter it, report it

If anti-social behaviour is a problem in your area, there’s a lot you can do to help put a stop to it.

You can:

• talk to your neighbours to find out if they're affected as well
• if you feel comfortable doing so talk to the person causing the problem; they may not realise how it is affecting you
• report the problem to your local council's anti-social behaviour coordinator
• call your police force's non-emergency number
• tell your landlord or residents’ association about the situation
• contact your local neighbourhood policing team, or attend one of their regular meetings

If the situation is an emergency (if someone's life or health is threatened) call 999.

No matter how you report anti-social behaviour, all complaints are treated as confidential. So you don’t have to worry about your identity being revealed.

The council and police both need evidence of what's happened to you, so keep a note of problems. They should not ask you to do this indefinitely.

Once you have reported the problem, you should be kept informed of progress in your case.

• Find a police force, neighbourhood policing team or police authority

• A to Z of local councils

Anti-social behaviour in your area

Your local council and police work together with other services to stop anti-social behaviour in your area. These teams are called Crime and Disorder Partnerships in England, and Community Safety Partnerships in Wales.

You can find out what they're doing in your area, and compare the work of your local team to other teams around the country.

If you don't think enough is being done, you can use that information to challenge them, either by writing to them, or at public meetings.

Find out what's happening where you live by entering your postcode on the page linked below.

• Local crime and justice Opens new window

Help and support if you're a victim of anti-social behaviour

If you're a victim of anti-social behaviour, there are lots of organisations that can give you help and support.

• Help and support if you're a victim of anti-social behaviour Opens new window