Help and Support
Anti-social behaviour can be exhausting. Repeated noise, intimidation, vandalism, drug activity, nuisance vehicles or threatening behaviour can leave people feeling unsafe in public and shared spaces. It can also affect sleep, work, relationships and mental health.
You do not have to deal with it alone. Beyond what FixASB offers, different organisations can help, depending on what is happening and where. We provide an overview of the avenues available below.
The police
Contact the police (opens external site) when the behaviour involves crime, threats, harassment, violence, criminal damage, drug dealing or an immediate risk to someone’s safety. Call 999 if a crime is happening now or somebody is in immediate danger. For non-emergencies, report online through your local police force or call 101.
Explain how often the behaviour happens and how it is affecting you. Ask for an incident or crime reference number and keep it with your records. Repeated reports can help the police see a pattern that may not be obvious from one incident alone.
Your local authority
Councils deal with many forms of anti-social behaviour affecting public spaces and neighbourhoods. This can include persistent noise, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, nuisance premises, street drinking and some environmental problems.
The correct team may be called community safety, environmental health, noise nuisance, neighbourhood enforcement or anti-social behaviour. Your council’s website should explain how to report the problem.
Councils can investigate complaints, gather evidence, work with the police and housing providers, issue warnings or notices, and use legal powers where appropriate. Their exact responsibilities and powers vary across the UK. You can find your council (opens external site) with this service.
Housing associations and landlords
If the behaviour is connected to a council or housing association property, report it to the housing provider. You can do this whether you are the tenant, a neighbour or another person affected nearby.
Housing officers may speak to the tenant, investigate possible breaches of the tenancy agreement, arrange mediation, improve security or work with other agencies. Serious or persistent cases can lead to formal tenancy action.
Describe specific incidents rather than simply saying that someone is “a nuisance”. Dates, times, witnesses, photographs, recordings made lawfully and previous reference numbers can all help.
Charities and independent advice
You can seek support even if nobody has been arrested or charged. Victim Support (opens external site) services help people affected by anti-social behaviour and can provide practical and emotional support. ASB Help (opens external site) offers specialist information for people struggling with persistent cases. Citizens Advice (opens external site) can explain your options, housing rights and complaint routes.
Some areas also provide community mediation. This may help with neighbour disputes, but it is not suitable where there are threats, abuse or a risk of violence.
Mental health support
Living with repeated anti-social behaviour can cause anxiety, low mood, anger, sleeplessness and a constant feeling of being on alert. Speak to your GP or local NHS mental health service if it is becoming difficult to cope.
Urgent mental health arrangements differ across the UK, so check your nation’s NHS website for the correct service. Call 999 or go to A&E if you or somebody else is in immediate danger. Samaritans (opens external site) can also be contacted free, day or night, on 116 123.
When reports do not lead to action
Keep a simple diary of incidents, including what happened, when, where, who was affected and which agency was told. Save reference numbers and copies of emails.
In England and Wales, victims of persistent anti-social behaviour may be able to request an Anti-social Behaviour Case Review, formerly called the Community Trigger, if their local threshold is met. This brings relevant agencies together to review what has been done and consider whether further action is possible.
Most importantly, keep reporting serious incidents and tell agencies about the harm being caused. Anti-social behaviour is not “just a nuisance” when it is damaging someone’s safety, health or ability to live normally.
