Antisocial behaviour

What is antisocial behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour, or ASB for short, is defined as conduct that has caused or is likely to cause: 

• harassment, alarm or distress to any person
• nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises
• housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person
• Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Antisocial behaviour can include:

• misuse of public space such as street drinking, drug misuse and dealing, car repairs on the street
• disregard for community/personal wellbeing such as nuisance neighbours and businesses, shouting and swearing, drunken behaviour
• acts directed at people such as harassment and intimidation, verbal abuse, discrimination
• environmental damage such as graffiti, litter, fly tipping  

Reports are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and more evidence gathering may be required. Runnymede Borough Council work with partner agencies to tackle ASB, change behaviours and make communities safer. 

Antisocial behaviour is not:

• children playing in public or private spaces
• people gathering socially
• being unable to park outside your own home
• DIY and car repairs unless they are taking place late at night or persistently
• civil disputes between neighbours, for example, shared driveways
• one-off complaints about noise, for example, parties or fireworks
• non-aggressive begging