Aggressive behaviour around apartment buildings

While apartment buildings offer many positives and incidental benefits, these often require teamwork and cooperation between residents. One of the key problems that can crop up if residents don't unite against it stems from aggressive behaviour, typically by non-residents. In this article, we will try to provide some practical tips on how to tackle intimidating and aggressive behaviour in case you or your neighbours face difficult situations.

Anti-social behaviour shouting

Shared estates and apartment buildings can blur lines between private spaces and public areas. The access for so many residents, family, visitors, delivery drivers, contractors and more can lead to both friction and a lack of responsibility. Unfortunately this can raise tensions between different parties, leading to minor problems escalating, as well as people letting off steam in more creative ways. Anti-social behaviour can start with simple words or raised voices, but sometimes progresses to vandalism or graffiti. While these actions rarely cause direct harm, the psychological impact can be far reaching and leave a lasting impact.

Camping and moving in

One of the benefits of apartment buildings can also contribute to negative behaviour. Secure, enclosed and private spaces, such as corridors, stairwells, bin stores and car parks, can attract unwanted visitors. Such shelters are often a welcome refuge for homeless or young people seeking protection from the weather. Inevitably they will be aware that they trespassing though, and this typically leads to confrontational and aggressive behaviour.

Aggression and intimidation

Once challenged, trespassers often move on to easier and more welcoming locations. However a small number may put up resistance, which is often in the form of blatantly aggressive behaviour and attempts at intimidation. This can be anything from gangs of people loitering, to shouting and loud noise, to direct threats or targeted vandalism. It is extremely rare that residents will suffer from assault or injury, but of course these types of trespassers (like most bullies) rely on fear and intimidation to coerce residents to inaction.

Increasingly we find dogs are brought into the mix, whether by residents or trespassers, adding additional complexities to such issues. Some people may train their dogs to exhibit aggressive behaviour, which can increase the fear factor for residents, but even well behaved dogs can cause anxiety for residents or children that are not comfortable around dogs, particularly larger breeds. Dogs can also contribute to anti-social behaviour, through noise, chewing or defecating, to which their owners may plead ignorance and inevitably exacerbate the frustration.

Please remember that if you are ever unsafe or threatened, it is vital to call the police for assistance. Whether this is inside or outside your home, or even outside your apartment building, you should call the police to report violent or intimidating behaviour and ensure your own safety.

Neighbourhood Watch

One of the most popular and effective methods to tackle all of the above is via a Neighbourhood Watch group. The aim is not to confront or provoke unauthorised people, but to build upon the existing community links by enhancing security and deterring opportunistic behaviour. This can include physical changes, such as installing and maintaining additional lighting, new fences or hedges to act as barriers, or access control like gates, fobs or locks. The community side relies upon residents sharing information to aid each other's safety, whether that involves making neighbours aware of a specific issue on the day, or ensuring that multiple people are involved in reporting problems to the police. Having more people involved also makes it easier to identify offenders, predict patterns and highlight vulnerabilities that residents can then utilise to tactically and peaceably prevent trespassers.

Often complainants can feel they are not taken seriously by authorities or companies, and in many cases this can be true. There is a fine line between strong action to tackle offensive behaviour, and a heavy handed approach to a very minor neighbour dispute. Receiving multiple, consistent reports will corroborate stories from various perspectives, and makes it much easier for authorities to implement proportionate measures to address specific behaviours. It also justifies the cost that may be incurred via the service charge, to add extra security or organise patrols, which facilities a property manager taking these steps and demonstrating reasonable actions.

Evidence and police

Ultimately if there are violent or aggressive incidents, residents must call the police to deal with and remove intruders. By capturing evidence, either through multiple consistent eye-witnesses or ideally photographic or video evidence, residents can support tougher measures and punishments to deter trespassers from returning or prevent pets from being allowed in.

Evidence can also be useful to bring the community together, encourage participation in the neighbourhood watch, and often to demonstrate to mutual friends exactly what impact the behaviour has on residents. This often leads to indirect resolution, if residents are connected to those causing the issues, by getting the information relayed through different people and deterring the offenders from returning. It also highlights the type of issues residents need to be aware of, and even actions as simple as ensuring that you close the main entrance door behind you and don't let anyone in can be a huge help if implemented consistently.

Most of the above scenarios will be unplanned, reactive or opportunistic offences. Locals will pass by and see someone to seek shelter, or follow a resident in through an open gate. By increasing security measures and reporting incidents, but most importantly building a safe community and positive interactions with neighbours, residents can better tackle negative behaviour and prevent aggressive visitors from finding refuge in their building.