Anti-Social Behaviour in your neighbourhood

Sadly Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) remains prominent across the UK. Police figures show more than a million incidents are reported every year. But what can you do to deal with it?

Talk to them

Sometimes ASB can boil down to simple misunderstandings. It might not always be clear to the offender that their actions are causing a problem for other people. For example noise disturbances or disruptive parking may be a matter of choice, and if they are not aware that this behaviour affects others then it can easily cause frustration and build resentment without them even being aware.

It can often help to approach them in a polite and friendly way, explain the issues that are caused by their behaviour, and request that they change or stop the behaviour to avoid ongoing problems.

Be careful not to approach them in an aggressive way, as this inevitably leads to escalation. While such interactions are undoubtedly difficult, especially if the other person is not aware of the problems caused, it is important to remain polite and respectful to avoid aggravating the matter. Remember as well that a little understanding goes a long way - both during discussions to resolve problems, but also that actions are often not deliberately malicious. Communal living can also be more challenging, for example noise disturbances travelling more easily through blocks of flats, meaning residents need to be a bit more accepting of low level disturbances.

Contact your property manager

If talking to your neighbour does not get sufficient results, you may want to try contacting your property manager. They may have more advice and resources to help you with difficult circumstances, or at the very least will be able to help mediate between the two parties. There could also be specific clauses in the lease or transfer agreement that they can enforce on your behalf, to put a stop to specific problems. Be aware though that most leases require the complainant to indemnify the manager for costs, meaning the complainant would have to pay the legal costs of enforcement action.

Avoiding aggravation

Another, often overlooked, option is to try and avoid the issue altogether. This won't always be an option, but if possible, small changes to try and avert confrontation and distance yourself from specific problems or behaviours can be the easiest, cheapest, solution. This could be anything from slightly changing the exact time you leave or arrive home each day, or potentially parking in a different location. Your property manager might be able to help with suggestions and alternatives, depending on the specific situation.

Report to the local council

Certain issues will be best reported to the local council. These problems usually relate to matters like repetitive noise disturbances, and disruptive or threatening behaviour. The council has various enforcement powers to tackle specific offences, and with sufficient reports should be able to act on the information provided. Be sure to take careful notes of each and every incident and report accurate details to the council on each occasion so that they can build a proper case against the offender(s).

Call the police

The police should be called in the event of an emergency - if you or others are in immediate danger. For non-urgent reports you can call 101 instead, to explain and advise about incidents that are not immediate risks. Again, be careful to take good, detailed notes about exactly what has happened, and identifying details about the offenders to help the police understand what happened and who caused the problems. Without detailed information, the police won't be able to attend or follow up on reported problems.

Document everything

Record everything you can; keeping a diary or log of incidents can be really helpful to aid your memory of problems, and avoid thoughts getting confused. Written notes are extremely helpful if you write them at the time of the incident, but occasionally photos and videos can help support specific problems.

It is important for residents to report issues to the council and the police so that they are aware. Discussions with neighbours on social media or WhatsApp groups, while a great way to establish if anyone else has noticed a problem, are unfortunately not helpful toward a resolution if not also reported to the appropriate authority. Be sure to report each incident so that they can build a detailed case.

Ask for a review

The Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced specific measures to help authorities review and improve measures used to address ASB in communities. This gives individuals the option to trigger a specific review of ASB cases and how it they are handled by councils and police. You can find more information about specific triggers online or by contacting your local council.

In every scenario, your best option is normally to contact the authorities to seek support and advice, to help guide you through the process and try to improve the situation. If you are struggling with any specific concerns then you are welcome to contact our team who will do their best to help you.