Antisocial behaviour 

Section 1 (1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 defines antisocial behaviour as acting in an antisocial way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, distress or is a nuisance to anyone else. 

Examples of antisocial behaviour

• Nuisance neighbours
• Rowdy and nuisance behaviour
• Vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting and dog fouling
• People dealing and buying drugs on the street or alcohol abuse
• People dumping rubbish, fly tipping and abandoning cars
• Begging and antisocial drinking
• The misuse of fireworks
• Playing music too loud
• Using or threatening violence
• Racist behaviour

Examples of antisocial behaviour if you are a tenant

Part 2 of the Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 came into force on 30 June 2004, and focuses on social housing, whilst giving new powers to social landlords to tackle antisocial behaviour. 

A requirement of this Act is that all social landlords must produce and publish an antisocial behaviour policy and summary. 

We are committed to challenging and stamping out every kind of antisocial behaviour, from noise nuisance in our homes to the appalling consequences of hate crime and discrimination. 

Our Antisocial Behaviour Strategy outlines our commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour and sets out our aims, attitude and general approach to combating the problem. 

We also outline procedures which will be used when dealing with antisocial behaviour.

As a local authority, we know that victims of antisocial behaviour are scared to report incidents for fear of reprisals. 

Complaints of antisocial behaviour will be treated in the strictest confidence and we have experienced staff that will support you throughout the whole process. 

You can report antisocial behaviour by:

• Contacting Barking and Dagenham Direct
• Emailing the Antisocial Behaviour Team via: 3000direct@lbbd.gov.uk
• Contacting your Police Safer Neighbourhood Team
• Contacting one of the local Community Housing Partnerships

Don't forget to tell us who is affected, how they are affected, where it happens and when it happens.

• Keep a diary, photographs, video or tape recordings of any of the incidents
• Keep a record of others who may have witnessed the incidents
• Always report incidents to the police or us

Antisocial behaviour diary sheet

In order for us to take action against people involved in antisocial behaviour it is important for us to gather evidence. One method that we use to do this is diary sheets. 

These diary sheets are to keep a record of the antisocial behaviour you are witnessing. Detail as much information as possible including dates and times and the effect the behaviour had on you. 

• We will contact you quickly to inform you that we are looking into the case
• If the case cannot be rectified easily, we will arrange to meet you at your home, in the housing office or somewhere convenient for you within 2 working days
• A list of actions will be drawn up detailing what is needed from you and what we will do to help to resolve the problem. The case is now a partnership - we are working for you, but you must help us by keeping to your side of the action plan
• We will need evidence (diary, photographs, video or tape recordings) to support the case and may need to interview witnesses
• After conducting this visit, the investigator is able to establish without any doubt that antisocial behaviour has occurred, the Antisocial Behaviour Investigator will contact the perpetrator within 1 working day
• The Antisocial Behaviour Investigator will speak to witnesses within 5 working days
• The Antisocial Behaviour Investigator will interview the alleged perpetrator within 7 working days
• Having evaluated all the evidence, the Antisocial Behaviour Investigator will decide on a course of action within 10 working days
• A form of action will then be decided upon whether this is to be:
  • Acceptable Behaviour Contract - a voluntary agreement between the perpetrators and us to stop the behaviour
  • Parental Contracts - a voluntary agreement between the parent and us to affect parental control over their child's behaviour
  • Good Neighbour Contracts - a voluntary agreement between the perpetrator and neighbour to stop the antisocial behaviour
  • An injunction - a legal order that instructs the perpetrator to stop acting antisocially
  • Demoted tenancy - a step that strips the perpetrator of their tenancy rights

Antisocial behaviour protocol
This document sets out the procedure to be followed when considering and applying for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) in the borough, other than an Order made ancillary to a criminal conviction (a 'Bolt-On ASBO'). 

Crack house protocol
This document explains the 'Crack House' Closure of Premises Protocol between us, Barking and Dagenham Police, Customer Services Department and Barking and Dagenham Registered Social Landlords - Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003.

A demoted tenancy is a new initiative designed to help tackle antisocial behaviour. 

It allows a tenant who has committed antisocial behaviour time to correct their behaviour instead of being faced with eviction immediately. 

If a tenant commits antisocial behaviour we can go to court and ask for a demotion to someone's tenancy which effectively makes any further breach to their Conditions of Tenancy punishable with eviction.

This document lays out how the council as a landlord deals with anti-social behaviour. 

It describes how we will deal with antisocial behaviour directed towards or committed by our tenants, their visitors and members of their household. 

Antisocial behaviour policy and procedures for council tenants