Anti-Social Behaviour
 
Dealing with anti-social behaviour
Everyone wants to live in a nice, safe area where people get along. But this isn’t always possible and often issues with anti-social behaviour can cause real problems for residents.
The Isle of Wight Council works with partners including Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue and housing associations to try to limit the issues around anti-social behaviour, as well as dealing with cases.
In its commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour, the Isle of Wight Community Safety Partnership has a minimum standards pledge which can be found here.


What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour is any behaviour that causes harassment, alarm and distress to any person not of the same household.
The impact of anti-social behaviour is far-reaching and can have a detrimental effect on communities.
There are many different types of anti-social behaviour, but the real issue is whether or not the actions form a pattern over a period of time.
People have differing views and tolerance levels regarding anti-social behaviour.


The following can all be classed as forms of anti-social behaviour:
o Verbal abuse (including that of a racial or homophobic nature).
o Damage to property (including graffiti and vandalism).
o Aggressive behaviour (being threatening, intimidating or violent – verbally or otherwise).
o Harassment (persecuting people because you don’t like how they live, their beliefs or lifestyles etc).
o Gatherings of people in public places that intimidate others.
o Noise (unnecessary volumes of noise especially at anti-social times).
o Fly-tipping and misuse of communal areas.
o Riding or cycling on footpaths.
o Uncontrolled pets or animals.
 

What are the consequences of anti-social behaviour?
If someone is persistently acting antisocially there are certain things that the Council, police and partners can do to help both the individual take responsibility for their behaviour and for the community:

Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC):
o This is a written agreement between an individual, the council and partner agencies in which the person agrees not to carry out a series of identifiable behaviours which have been defined as anti-social.
Parenting Contract/Order
o A Parenting Order is a court order which usually means a parent or carer must attend parenting classes (sometimes called parenting programmes or interventions). Parents may also be ordered to meet other conditions, like making sure their child stays at home at certain times. These can last for up to twelve months, and are intended to help improve the child’s behaviour and ensure parents take responsibility for their children.
Confiscation of property
o Sometimes the item which is causing the anti-social behaviour can be removed so that it is no longer an issue. For example if someone is causing a nuisance by playing music too loud, the stereo can be seized.
Demotion of tenancy - eviction
o In severe circumstances, where all other measures to try and resolve issues have been tried, it is possible for the residents causing the problem to be evicted. This only applies to housing association properties.
Premises Closure
o Where there are no other possible resolutions, it is possible for the council or the police, to apply a premises closure to any property where nuisance is being caused. This includes a privately owned property.
Fine
o Crimes such as fly-tipping, littering, graffiti and vandalism are all classified as acting in an anti-social way. A range of fines will be given to people caught doing any of these.
Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO)
o These are court orders which restricts specific threatening or intimidating behaviour. An ASBO can ban a person from threatening, intimidating or disruptive actions; spending time with a particular group of friends and visiting certain areas.
ASBOs are in effect for a minimum of two years, and can be longer. They are designed to protect specific victims, neighbours, or even whole communities from behaviour that has frightened or intimidated them, or damaged their quality of life.
Imprisonment
o If an ASBO is breached, it becomes a criminal matter and the individual may be required to pay a fine of up to £5000 and/or be imprisoned.



Page last updated on: 01/09/2010