Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour, or ASB for short, is defined as conduct that has caused or is likely to cause:
- harassment, alarm or distress to any person
- nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to that person’s occupation of residential premises
- housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person
ASB can include:
- misuse of public space such as street drinking, drug misuse and dealing, car repairs on the street
- disregard for community/personal wellbeing such as nuisance neighbours and businesses, shouting and swearing, drunken behaviour
- acts directed at people such as harassment and intimidation, verbal abuse, discrimination
- environmental damage such as graffiti, litter, fly tipping
Reports are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and more evidence gathering may be required. Swindon Borough Council will work with partner agencies to tackle ASB, change behaviours and make communities safer.
ASB is not:
- children playing in public or private spaces
- people gathering socially
- being unable to park outside your own home
- DIY and car repairs unless they are taking place late at night or persistently
- civil disputes between neighbours, for example, shared driveways
- one-off complaints about noise, for example, parties or fireworks
- non-aggressive begging
For some issues, other council services are already in place.
If you wish to report a problem such as an abandoned vehicle, fly-tipping, graffiti or other environmental issues, see environmental problems or our report a problem webpage.