Antisocial behaviour

Antisocial behaviour is any aggressive, intimidating or destructive activity that damages or destroys another person's quality of life.

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Reducing antisocial behaviour it is a key priority for the government. In 2010-11, the police recorded 3.3 million incidents of antisocial behaviour. We know that many incidents are reported to other agencies, such as local councils and housing associations, or not reported at all.  

Focus on the victim: the antisocial behaviour call-handling report

We hear of cases where the same antisocial behaviour problem is reported again and again, only to receive an inadequate response. 

That is why eight police force areas trialled a new approach to better identify vulnerable and repeat victims of antisocial behaviour and prioritise their cases to ensure they receive a better service. The aim was to focus on the harm that victims experience, rather than just ticking boxes on a form. 

The Home Office call-handling trials report, 'Focus on the victim', highlights the key results from the trials, and demonstrates that such trials offer a valuable model of 'bottom-up' testing of new ideas. The implementation is genuinely owned at a local level, with the Home Office and other national partners offering support and facilitating. 
 
The forces participating in the trials reported improved caller satisfaction, better and quicker identification of vulnerable victims and closer working with other agencies in dealing with high-risk cases. Forces have also described how focusing on the harm caused to the victim, rather than the nature of the antisocial behaviour incident itself, has helped their officers to realise just how damaging antisocial behaviour can be.

Other police forces are encouraged to learn from the experience of these trials and to use the summary report and the individual forces' more detailed assessments as a guide to adopting a better call-handling and case management approach to antisocial behaviour so that victims and communities can benefit.

Reporting antisocial behaviour

If you are harassed or victimised, if antisocial behaviour is affecting your quality of life or making you fear for your safety or the safety of others, contact your local antisocial behaviour team, neighbourhood policing team or local police station directly and file a complaint. If the situation is an emergency (if someone's life or health is threatened) call 999.

All complaints are treated as confidential under the Data Protection Act, so you don't have to worry about your identity being revealed.

How to report antisocial behaviour information is available on the Directgov website.

Antisocial behaviour - new proposals

In this video, crime prevention minister James Brokenshire explains the government's new plans to tackle antisocial behaviour, including 'community triggers' that would compel local agencies to investigate antisocial behaviour if it has been repeatedly complained about.

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