Antisocial behaviour

This is less serious antisocial behaviour, where it is considered there is no risk of immediate harm. 

An interview will be carried out either in person or over the phone within 5 working days. In the case of Low Level antisocial behaviour, complaints will be investigated over a 4-week period. 

Examples of Low Level antisocial behaviour include:  

• Excessive noise – which causes, or is capable of causing, a nuisance to another person.  
• Vandalism and damage to property.  
• Pet and animal nuisance.  
• Nuisance from vehicles, including where vehicles are parked inconsiderately or where people carry out work on one or more vehicles which causes a nuisance to others.  
• Drugs/substance misuse (e.g. smoking of cannabis).  
• Loitering on the estate causing nuisance to others, with or without alcohol or drugs 
• Garden nuisance, including messy or overgrown gardens (which encourage rodents) or storing belongings in gardens which are unsightly.  
• Nuisance related to disposal of rubbish.  
• Noisy parties which cause, or are capable of causing, nuisance to others. 

Serious antisocial behaviour, where it is considered that there is, or may be, a genuine risk of immediate harm.  

In these cases, an interview will be held either by telephone or in person within 1 working day. In the case of high level or urgent antisocial behaviour, where an incident is of such severity that an immediate legal response may be required, action will be considered in line with our Antisocial Behaviour Policy. 

Examples of High Level antisocial behaviour include:  

• Criminal behaviour (including incidents that may be considered a Hate Crime) 
• Threatening behaviour, including verbal abuse and/or threats of violence 
• Where the complainant is being targeted for a specific reason (e.g. learning difficulties or because they are vulnerable) 
• Aggressive animal complaints 
• Drug dealing 
• Fly-tipping 
• Noise, where the noise is frequently excessive in volume and duration or occurs at unreasonable hours, between 11pm and 7am.  
• Making false allegations against another person in order to cause them nuisance, alarm or distress (these are vexatious complaints and could also be subject to the Complaints Policy) 

This is classed as urgent antisocial behaviour, where it is considered there is, or may be, a serious risk of immediate harm.   

In these cases, an interview will be held either by telephone or in person within 24 hours. In the case of high level or urgent antisocial behaviour, where an incident is of such severity that an immediate legal response may be required, action will be considered in line with our Antisocial Behaviour Policy. 

Examples of Urgent Level antisocial behaviour include:  

• Acts of physical violence, such as attacks on a person. 
• Cannabis farms or factories.  
• Domestic abuse or hate incidents. 
• Presence of illegal weapons or explosive devices.  
• Serious sexual offences. 

• Violence or threats of violence 
• Harassment (repeatedly to cause upset) 
• Hate crime and hate incidents  
• Verbal abuse and offensive behaviour 
• Unreasonable and persistent noise 
• Graffiti and criminal damage  
• Drug/alcohol use that leads to alarm, harassment and distress to others. 

• The sound of children playing or a baby crying 
• Everyday living noises (e.g. flushing toilets or closing doors) 
• Minor personal disputes and differences. Remember, noise nuisance (e.g. loud music, shouting or slamming doors) in flats affects all of the neighbours around you. There is more information about noise nuisance below. 

• What happened: Provide us with a description of the incident.  
• Where it happened: Was it at a specific address or can you describe the location
• When it happened: What time was it and on what date?  
• Who was responsible: Do you know their name and address? If not, can you describe them?  
• Why it happened: Was it directly targeted at you? Or is it a problem that affects the whole community? How did it affect you? 

If you make a report of antisocial behaviour, hate crime or domestic abuse, you will be contacted by a member of the housing team to agree what action can be taken to help resolve the matter.