ASB & Neighbour Disputes
Your local area should be a pleasant and peaceful place in which to live and indeed it is for most people. Increasingly, however, problems caused by a small minority of people such as playing loud music, inconsiderate parking, running a business from home, noisy arguments and threatening behaviour can cause a great deal of misery for those neighbours affected.
As antisocial behaviour is not limited to office hours and is often more of a problem in the evenings and weekends, we have introduced a new 24-hour reporting facility so that any issues can be reported to us as they happen.
The new service means that any Severnside tenants suffering from antisocial behaviour can contact us 24-hours a day, seven days a week to report the problem. Details of incidents will be recorded, and passed to the relevant neighbourhood officer the following working day for appropriate action to be taken. This could include liaising with other agencies such as the police, home visits, or result in further investigations.
Anyone wishing to report antisocial behaviour to Severnside can call 01743 360945 at any time, and be reassured that the information will be recorded and followed up. It is important to note that if an incident appears to be criminal activity or requires an immediate response, you should still report it to the police or other relevant agency at time it is happening.
What is Anti-social behaviour?
There is no simple definition for anti-social behaviour.
In general, anti-social behaviour can cover a wide range of situations ranging from minor neighbour disputes arising from a difference in life styles to serious criminal behaviour.
The RESPECT Standard - tackling anti-social behaviour and its causes - This link opens in a new window.
To describe anti-social behaviour we refer to the following broad definitions as found in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Housing Act 1996:
* “Acting in a manner that caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as themselves.” - Crime and Disorder Act 1998
* “Conduct causing or likely to cause nuisance or annoyance to a person residing, visiting or otherwise engaged in lawful activity in the locality” - Housing Act 1996. For the purpose of the Housing Act 1996, the anti-social behaviour must directly or indirectly relate to the housing management function, or involve the use of (or the threat to use) housing accommodation owned or managed by a relevant landlord for an unlawful purpose.
There are a many factors which on their own or in combination can constitute anti-social behaviour as defined above. The following are some of the most common:
- Excessive noise (especially late at night)
- Threatening or swearing at neighbours
- Criminal activity
- Nuisance caused by animals
- Vandalism
- Assault or physical violence including domestic violence
- Dumping of litter or rubbish
- Breaches of tenancy conditions
-
Racist or homophobic abuse or graffiti
Documents applicable to this area:
Severnside Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Policy ASB Policy [pdf] 76KB
'Guide to Anti Social Behaviour' leaflet Guide to ASB Leaflet [pdf] 613KB
ASB Incident Diary Sheets ASB Incident Diary Sheet [pdf] 149KB
ASB Incident Diary Sheet - Guide how to complete them ASB Incident Diary Leaflet [pdf] 495KB