What is ASB?
ASB covers a wide range of problems, and includes behaviour that is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to an individual or the wider community. ASB can but does not always involve criminal activity.
Examples of ASB include:
- Harassment and intimidating behaviour
- Hate crime, for example racist or homophobic abuse
- Behaviour that creates alarm and fear
- Using or allowing your property to be used for any immoral or illegal purposes including, using or supplying illegal drugs or substances, counterfeit goods and weapons
- Causing nuisance or annoyance to your neighbours by, for example: playing loud music, arguing and slamming doors, unreasonable dog barking or fouling, offensive drunkenness, dumping rubbish, vandalism, graffiti or other deliberate damage to property
- Harassing other neighbours or any other person in the community by, for example: using or threatening to use violence, using insulting words or behaviour, causing damage or threatening to damage another persons home or belongings, writing threatening, insulting or abusive graffiti
What are the Council doing to tackle ASB in its properties?
We recognise that ASB can have a profoundly negative impact on communities and adversely affect the quality of life for many individuals in affected areas.
It is essential that all residents can enjoy a safe environment and the peaceful use of their homes and neighbourhoods. When a resident is allocated a Council home they sign a Tenancy Agreement, a legally binding contract between the Council and the resident. Under the terms of the agreement, residents have responsibilities with regard to their own behaviour, the behaviour of their household and the behaviour of any visitors to their home. Residents who breach the conditions of their Tenancy Agreement will have action taken against them in line with our Antisocial Behaviour Policy.
Community Partnerships
The Council will often work in partnership with other agencies and partners, such as the police, the Community Safety Partnership team, Probation Service, Fire Service, Housing Associations, Youth Offending Services, Social Services, and other services to share information and tackle ASB in a coordinated and effective way. Some partners may have tools or powers that we do not.