Anti-social behaviour toolkit

What is anti-social behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour is behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to a person of a different household than the perpetrator.

Anti-social behaviour can be reported to us, but also to the police by calling 101 or reporting online.

Anti-social behaviour can occur in many different ways. You can find out more about anti-social behaviour and the best way to report it below:

Arson - arson should be reported to the police and the fire service by calling 999 if there is an immediate risk. If there is no immediate risk, please report arson to the police by calling 101 or reporting online. 

Domestic abuse - domestic abuse should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. Advice, support and more information can be found here.

Drug use and dealing - any drug use or dealing should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Graffiti - Incidents of graffiti are the responsibility of the property owner and they should be contacted directly. Graffiti on council owned and managed property can be reported online. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Gun or knife crime - gun or knife crime should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. 

Hate crime - hate crime should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. More information on hate crime, including third party reporting centres in the district, can be found here. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Noise - information on noise nuisances and reporting to environmental health can be found here. We work closely with environmental health when it comes to noise and anti-social behaviour. Some noise is considered as anti-social behaviour, including persistent loud music or group related noise however one off incidents and noise including children playing is not usually considered anti-social behaviour. Information on animal related noise can be found here. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Nuisance or dangerous dogs - information on anti-social behaviour involving animals can be found here. Owning a dangerous dog or failing to properly control a dog is considered anti-social behaviour and is a crime that should be reported to the police.  Information on animal related noise can be found here. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Offensive behaviour - offensive behaviour should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. Offensive behaviour includes drunken, rowdy behaviour, indecent exposure and unwanted sexual comments or advances. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

Threats, intimidation, harassment and violence - threats, intimidation, harassment or violence should be reported to the police on 101 or online. If there is an immediate risk to yourself or others, please report this to the police immediately by calling 999. You can also report this to us as anti-social behaviour.

What to do next

People may not be aware that their actions are bothering you. If you feel safe to do so, the best thing to do is to talk to them  and tell them how you feel.  Our good neighbour guide holds useful hints and tips on ways to help ensure everyone can live in their home comfortably.

If talking to the person in question doesn't work and the behaviour continues or you do not feel safe approaching them, please report the incidents to us.

To help us understand the situation fully, we'll need to know:

• who was involved?
• what happened?
• how did it make you feel?
• date and time of incident
• where did it happen?

 You will need to complete diary sheets to support your report.

Diary sheets

Incident diaries are used where residents are reporting antisocial behaviour (ASB) in their community. We'd like to understand what is happening and how it makes you feel when and after it happens. With your evidence we have a much better chance to work with you to sort the problem out.

The Good Neighbour Guide

Everyone deserves to enjoy where they live. Sometimes, you may be disturbing your neighbours without realising. Below are some hints and tips to help to ensure everyone can live in their home comfortably.

Keeping safe

Keeping yourself and others safe is important. You can help with this by:

• keeping any communal gates or doors closed
• only smoking where allowed and away from neighbours windows. Ensure any cigarette ends are disposed of responsibily
• safely storing any items that may be flamable, for example gas canisters

Keeping communal areas clean and tidy

If you live in a building with shared communal areas, please be mindful of others when using the shared space. You can help by:

• keeping personal belongings, such as bikes, in allocated storage spaces or within your own home
• putting rubbish in the correct bins, ensuring recycling is flattened
• reporting any bins that are not collected
• not charging any items in the communal areas, for example e-scooters

Keeping noise at a reasonable level

• Consider your next door neighbour when playing music or watching TV
• If you are planning to have a party or noisy maintenance works, let your neighbour know beforehand
• Consider the time of day and weather conditions before lighting a BBQ
• Don't use noisy equipment late at night or early morning

Entering and leaving your home

• Treat your neighbours with respect
• Ensure guests and other household members behave responsibly
• Be considerate when parking vehicles ensuring enough room is left for emergency services and that footpaths and driveways aren't blocked

Help and support

Links to further information and support that is available:

Housing Association tenants

If you are a housing association tenant, you should speak to your landlord about antisocial behaviour in the first instance. Many housing associations will have advice and guidance that you may find useful.

Housing Associations in Three Rivers:

• Thrive Homes - https://www.thrivehomes.org.uk/
• Homegroup - https://www.homegroup.org.uk/
• Origin - https://www.originhousing.org.uk/
• Sanctuary Housing - https://www.sanctuary.co.uk/
• Places for People - https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/
• Watford Community Housing Trust - https://www.wcht.org.uk/
• Hightown Housing Association https://www.hightownha.org.uk/
• Clarion Housing - https://www.myclarionhousing.com/
• L and Q - https://www.lqgroup.org.uk/
• Network Homes - https://www.networkhomes.org.uk/
• Settle Housing  - https://www.settlegroup.org.uk/
• Paradigm Housing Association - https://www.paradigmhousing.co.uk/