What is Anti Social Behaviour?

The Crime and Disorder act of 1998, Section 1(1) defines it as acting in a:

"Manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment or distress to one or more persons not of the same household".

Anti Social Behaviour can be broken down into two catergories. They are:

• Nuisance and Harassment
• Environmental Crime

Nuisance and Harassment

• Intimidation
• Verbal Abuse
• Bullying
• Drunk & Disorderly
• Excessive Noise
• Throwing of Missiles
• Hoax Calling
• Use of air guns
• Begging
• Shouting & Swearing

Please note that by its definition Anti Social Behaviour affects more than one person or household. The ASB team do not deal with neighbour on neighbour disputes.

Environmental Crime

Environmental Crime Includes:

• Abandoned Vehicles
• Vehicle-related nuisance & inappropriate vehicle use
• Noisy cars/ motorbikes
• Setting Fires (not directed at specific persons or property)
• Damage to private and public property
• Dropping litte
• Dumping rubbish and Fly-tipping

What you can do if you feel that you are suffering from anti-social behaviour

• Residents can contact a member of the anti-social behaviour team to discuss their particular case.
• Residents can leave a message on the ASB Action Line - 01903 221430. The ASB team aim to reply to all calls within two working days.
• Residents can download an inicident diary, complete it then return it to the ASB team. This allows the ASB team to identify the problem and how frequently it is happening. Incident diaries are also used as evidence for interventional measures. For a copy of an incident diary, please download the file below.

What can Worthing Borough Council do about ASB?

Worthing Anti-Social Behaviour Team will actively look into all cases of anti-social behaviour. Once an issue has been identified then Worthing Borough can use a range of methods to combat these issues, these are as follows:

• Liaise with the local Police Community Support Officers/ Police Constables/ Police Sergeants/ Police Inspectors and request increased Police patrols/ presence in areas affected by ASB.
• Hold a community meeting to gain feedback and information from other residents in the area that may be suffering from the same ASB.
• Set up a local action team (LAT). These are attended by Council Officers, stakeholder agencies (e.g. Registered Social Landlords), and members of the public. LAT's are designed to actively problem solve and implement practical solutions to the problem.
• Supply mediation sessions for neighbours who are experiencing problems interacting with each other.
• Draft a Good Neighbourhood Agreement, where members of the community outline behaviour that is acceptable.
• Target priority prolific offenders (PPO) and take interventional action, i.e. issue an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) on the individual, apply to the Court for an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO), apply for a Parenting Order.

Please note that all possible solutions to Anti Social Behaviour are considered before an agency proceeds with an intervention. Such action is only taken where the ASB team are satisfied that it is the only available tool left to them in order to protect the community and deal with the issue.

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