Anti-Social Behaviour
What is Anti-Social Behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others and is repeated or targeted. Not every neighbour issue is anti-social behaviour. Some problems are best resolved between neighbours.
We can usually help with:
- Threatening or abusive behaviour
- Harassment or intimidation
- Ongoing, serious disturbance
- Criminal activity
What we don’t consider to be ASB:
- One-off noise (e.g. a party or DIY)
- Everyday living noise (footsteps, doors, children playing)
- Differences in lifestyle or routines
- Gossip, unkind remarks or staring
What to do if you are experiencing ASB
1. Try to resolve it if you can
If you feel safe, many issues can be sorted with a calm conversation.
People may not realise they are causing a problem, and a quick chat can often resolve things more quickly than a formal report.
2. Report it to us
You can report anti-social behaviour by calling 01452 424344, or by using the online form below:
3. Contact the police if needed
If you are in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 999.
For non-emergencies, contact the police on 101 or report to Crimestoppers
Types of ASB
Noise nuisance
We want everyone to enjoy their home. That means both being considerate and tolerant, especially when it comes to everyday noise.
Is it ASB?
Some noise is part of daily life. But if it’s persisent and disruptive, at night or for long periods, it might be considered anti-social behaviour.
What you can do
If you feel safe, speak to your neighbour first. They may not realise they’re causing a disturbance. If things don’t improve, or you’re not comfortable approaching them, report it to us. Contact your local council about animal noise or excessive noise during unsociable hours:
Gloucester City Council: 01452 396396 or report online
Cheltenham Borough Council: 01242 262626 or report online
Tewkesbury Borough Council: 01684 295010 or report online
Stroud District Council: 01453 766321 or report online
Verbal abuse, intimidation or harassment
If someone is making you feel unsafe in or around your home, you can ask for support
What you can do
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999.
You can report the incident to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 if you prefer to remain anonymous.
Once you have reported the verbal abuse, violence, intimidation or harassment to the police or Crimestoppers, please complete our online ASB form; we’ll investigate your antisocial behaviour complaint and take action when needed.
Fly tipping
Fly-tipping is a breach of tenancy and can lead to legal action. When offenders are identified, GCH and the Council can issue fixed penalty fines of £400 and recharge the costs of clean-up, which are often significantly higher than the cost of lawful disposal.
What you can do
Take a photograph of the discarded items and report fly-tipping to:
- On GCH-managed land: www.gch.co.uk or customer.experience@gch.co.uk
- On public land: heretohelp@gloucester.gov.uk
Cannabis
Cannabis is a controlled substance and is classified as a Class B drug. Possessing or using cannabis in your home is a criminal offence, unless it has been prescribed by a doctor for medicinal use. It is a breach of the tenancy agreement which states that the property must not be used for illegal activities.
What you can do if you are concerned about cannabis use in your neighbourhood
To report to the police, call 101 (non – emergency number) or report online.
If you prefer to remain anonymous you can report the incident to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
Once you have reported the incident, please complete our online ASB form; we’ll investigate and take action when needed.
The video below produced for ASB Awareness Week explains:
- Is smoking cannabis a crime
- How to report it
- What action the police and landlords can take
- The consequences for tenants if they are convicted of drug dealing and supply
Criminal behaviour, drug-dealing and weapons
If you’ve experienced criminal activity such as drug dealing, arson or carrying illegal weapons, report it to the police and use. We will act quickly with partner agencies to help keep everyone safe.
What you can do
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999.
To report to the police, call 101 (non – emergency number) or report online.
If you prefer to remain anonymous you can report the incident to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
Once you have reported the incident, please complete our online ASB form; we’ll investigate and take action when needed.
If you have been the victim of crime, you can seek help and guidance from Victim Support by either phoning 08 08 16 89 111 or visit the website.
Hate incidents or hate crime
If you have experienced abuse or an attack because of your race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity, we will take this seriously.
What you can do
If you or someone else is in danger, call 999.
For non-emergencies contact the police on 101 or report online at www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact-us/report-a-crime-or-incident. If you wish to report crime anonymously then you can report through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or report online at crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information
If you do make a report to the Police, please let us know that this has happened along with any incident/crime numbers on our online ASB form.
We can also make referrals to appropriate support agencies (with your consent) to provide you with additional support.
Where there is offensive graffiti on a property as a result of a hate crime or incident, we will remove it within one working day from being reported to us.
What happens after you report ASB
In most cases, we aim to resolve anti-social behaviour early, using practical, non-legal approaches. This might include mediation, warning letters or Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.
If the behaviour is serious, or doesn’t improve, we can take legal action.