What is Anti-Social Behaviour?
Anti-Social Behaviour is any act that causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress. It can also include conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance. This can include an activity that is having, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality and is persistent and continuing. If it is an emergency, and someone’s safety or property is at risk, then call Dorset Police on 999.
Anti-social behaviour can include:
- vandalism
- graffiti
- verbal abuse
- threats
- bullying
- drunken or drug-related behaviour
- aggressive begging
Anti-social behaviour may occur in a residential setting or out in the community where it affects more people. BCP Council and Dorset Police work to address the issue and depending on what type of antisocial behaviour the reporting process may vary.
Use the dropdown icon on the left to see who to report the issue to and the contact information:
Abandoned Vehicles:
This covers vehicles that appear to have been left by their owner, rather than stolen and abandoned. It includes scrap or ‘end of life’ vehicles and those damaged at the scene of a road traffic collision that have been abandoned and aren’t awaiting recovery.
Who should I contact? – Local authority BCP
How can I contact them? – 01202 123 456
Report it to BCP Council online by following this link>>
Vehicle nuisance or inappropriate use:
This relates to vehicles being used in acts such as street cruising (driving up and down the street causing annoyance and bothering other road users), vehicle convoys and riding or driving on land other than a road. It also covers the misuse of go-peds, motorised skateboards and electric-propelled cycles, motorised scooters state other than Beryl bike (applicable in Bournemouth and Poole), which are legal for use under the BCP rental scheme,
and the unlicensed dealing of vehicles where a person has two or more vehicles on the same road within 500 metres of each other.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police
How can I contact them? – dialing101
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
Rowdy or inconsiderate behaviour:
This refers to general nuisance behaviour in a public place or a place to which the public have access, such as private clubs. It does not include domestic-related behaviour, harassment or public disorder which should be reported as crimes.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police
How can I contact them? – dialling 101
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
Rowdy or nuisance neighbours:
This covers any rowdy behaviour or general nuisance caused by neighbours, including boundary and parking disputes. It also covers noise nuisance from parties or playing loud music.
Who should I contact? – BCP ASB Team/Housing
How can I contact them? -01202 128 883
You can contact BCP Council housing by following this link>>
Littering or drugs paraphernalia:
This includes fly posting and discarding litter, rubbish or drugs paraphernalia in any public place.
Who should I contact? – BCP Council
How can I contact them? -01202 128 883
Report to BCP Council online by following this link>>
Animal problems:
This covers any situation where animals are creating a nuisance or people’s behaviour associated with the use of animals is deemed as antisocial. It includes uncontrolled animals, stray dogs, barking, fouling and intimidation by an animal.
Who should I contact? – BCP Dog Warden
How can I contact them? – 01202 123 789 or out of hours 08000 281 870
You can contact the BCP Council about dog fouling by following this link>>
Trespassing:
This is any situation in which people have entered land, water or premises without lawful authority or permission. It ranges from taking an unauthorised shortcut through a garden to setting up unauthorised campsites.
Who should I contact? – BCP Council
How can I contact them? -01202 123 456
You can contact BCP Council to report an issue by following this link>>
Street drinking:
This relates to unlicensed drinking in public spaces, where the behaviour of the persons involved is deemed as antisocial. It also covers unplanned and spontaneous parties which encroach on the street.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police and BCP Council
How can I contact them? – by dialling 101 for Dorset Police
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
How can I contact them? -01202 128 883 for BCP Council
Report it to BCP Council online by following this link>>
Nuisance calls:
This covers any type of communication by phone that causes anxiety and annoyance, including silent calls and intrusive ‘cold calling’ from businesses. It does not cover indecent, threatening or offensive behaviour which should be reported as crimes.
Who should I contact? – Action Fraud
How can I contact them? -0300 123 2040
You can contact Action Fraud Online by following this link>>
Prostitution-related activity:
This relates to any activity involving prostitution such as loitering, displaying cards or promoting prostitution. It may also refer to activities in and around a brothel that impact on local residents. It does not include ‘kerb-crawling’ which should be reported as a crime.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police and BCP ASB team
How can I contact them? – by dialling 101
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
01202 128 883
Nuisance noise:
This relates to all incidents of noise nuisance that do not involve neighbours (see ‘Nuisance neighbours’ above).
Who should I contact? – BCP ASB Team
How can I contact them? – 01202 123 456 Out of hours 0800 506 050
Begging
This covers anyone begging or asking for charitable donations in a public place, or encouraging a child to do so, without a license. Unlicensed ticket sellers at or near public transport hubs may also fall into this category.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police and Trading Standards
How can I contact them? – by dialling 101 for Dorset Police
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
How can I contact them? – 01202 128 883 for Trading Standards
Misuse of fireworks:
This will include the inappropriate use of fireworks, the unlawful sale or possession of fireworks and noise created by fireworks.
Who should I contact? – Dorset Police
How can I contact them? – by dialling 101
Report it to Dorset Police Online by following this link>>
More information about reporting anti social behaviour
The Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team does not operate a 24-hour responsive service for anti-social behaviour however,
If it is an emergency, and someone’s safety or property is at risk, then call Dorset Police on 999.
If it is less urgent, there are a number of other options:
- Call BCP Council on 01202 128 883 if you want to complain about an incident that has occurred and you need help or support, or you want them to investigate with their partners. If they are unable to take your call at the time, please leave a voice message and they will contact you as soon as they can.
- Report the issue by email to: team@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
- If you want to report loud music or other noise such as dog barking, contact the out of hours noise service on 0800 0281870. Officers are on duty throughout the week and can often attend to witness the matter and take the appropriate action as necessary.
- Contact the Police using Do It Online to report a crime or incident.
- If you are a student at the University the University has produced a helpful guide that may assist, you can download this guide by following this link>>
- If you are experiencing anti social behaviour and feel the issue is not being addressed you can raise a case review. To read the ASB Case Review guidance from BCP Council visit //www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Communities/Anti-Social-Behaviour-Case-Review.
Not all behaviours that annoy you will be accepted as anti-social behaviour. Lifestyle clashes or disputes with neighbours will likely need to be resolved privately and mediation can often produce a positive outcome.
If your complaint of anti-social behaviour is accepted, BCP or Dorset Police will investigate the matter thoroughly and keep you informed of progress and support you through the process. In the first instance, it may be necessary for you to keep a diary of what behaviours you have experienced and how they have impacted upon you.
What happens next?
There are many possible outcomes in cases of anti-social behaviour and the case officer will explain these at the outset of your complaint and update you during the investigation.
Informal remedies often result in an improvement for victims of anti-social behaviour. This could include positive engagement by ourselves or other partners with either or both parties, involvement of support agencies where addictions or vulnerabilities are identified or warnings or Acceptable Behaviour Contracts issued to the perpetrator.
However, more formal remedies, depending on the level of evidence provided by you and gathered by the case officer during an investigation, are available to the team. These can include a Community Protection Notice, a Civil Injunction, a Premises Closure Order or an eviction of a tenant of a rented property.
Listen to our audio guide to reporting anti social behaviour
What can I do to help?
If you are affected by someone else’s behaviour, BCP Council will need you to provide the evidence for their team to consider any action and you need to ensure you keep your case officer updated within the timescales that are requested.
Keep your diary sheets accurate and record as much relevant detail as possible including times and details of any behaviours that have affected you, any specific language that was used and what impact the it has on you or your family.
Please ensure that if the issues are resolved and action is no longer necessary you make the police or BCP Council aware.
Effective support for anti-social behaviour victims
ASB Help is a registered charity in England and Wales set up to provide advice and support to victims of anti-social behaviour.
ASB Help aims to provide information and advice to interested parties and members of the public involved with and suffering from anti-social behaviour. We believe there is a clear need for coordinated information and advice that is readily accessible to those who need it.
Our website focuses on equipping victims of anti-social behaviour with the necessary tools to effectively report it. Find out more about ASB Help by following this link>>
