Anti-social behaviour

The term anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight community life.



It's any form of intimidating or destructive activity that damages or destroys another person's quality of life.

We define it as "engaging in or threatening to engage in, conduct causing, or likely to cause, a nuisance or annoyance to persons engaged in lawful activities" and "behaviour that unreasonably interferes with other people's rights to the use and enjoyment of their home and community."

Most types of anti-social behaviour fit into one of three categories:

• Street problems e.g, intimidation, begging, public drug dealing, reckless driving on mini-motorbikes
  
  
• Nuisance neighbours e.g, excessive noise, animal-related problems, harrassment and criminal damage
  
  
• Environmental crime e.g, littering, graffiti, vandalism and fly-tipping
  
  Government proposals for change
  
  Reducing anti-social behaviour is a key priority for Essex Police as well as the government.
  
  In May 2012 the government published a white paper entitled 'Putting victims first - more effective responses to anti-social behaviour' which sets out their plans to introduce more effective measures to tackle anti-social behaviour.

It includes proposals to change the tools and powers available to police, councils and other agencies who deal with anti-social behaviour.

If given the green light, the proposal could see the introduction of community triggers whereby if five or more people make a complaint that is not followed through, they are able to escalate it to agencies like Essex Police who will provide a response.

If introduced, the proposals would also see Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (known as ASBOs) replaced with two new orders - a criminal behaviour order and a crime prevention injunction.



Both orders seek to offer a speedier and more effective resolution than the current Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and also look to address some of the underlying causes of the individual's behaviour.

Anti-social behaviour orders are still currently used by Essex Police as a tool to help tackle anti-social behaviour. You can find out more about them and what they are used for in the video above.

Anti-social behaviour strategy

Anti-social behaviour can make life unpleasant and lead to more serious crime so Essex Police has formed a strategy to enhance its processes and responses to anti-social behaviour.

It emphasises key aspects of anti-social behaviour incidents from the point of them being reported to the police, through to attendance, response and quality assurance.

As part of the commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour each Community Safety Partnership (a partnership between the police, local authorities, probation service, health authorities, the voluntary sector, local residents and businesses set up to reduce crime and disorder) has established minimum standards, ensuring victims are treated fairly and with dignity, practical support is given to address victims' needs and relevant information and intelligence are shared.