How to Report Anti Social Behaviour

The police, local authority, or other agency have a range of tools available to them to tackle anti-social behaviour.  Early intervention techniques are very effective in a number of situations – these include measures such as verbal and written warnings, mediation and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (also called ABCs, or Acceptable Behaviour Agreements) which are voluntary written agreements between a perpetrator who is under 18 and the local authority and police, agreeing not to be involved with certain anti-social acts (witnessed also by their parents).

Legally, there are a variety of options for agencies.  See What the Law Says for information on these tools. Some of these can be done on their own.  For others they need to agree them with partner agencies.  The actions need to be decided through court and the decision will ultimately lie with the judge on that particular day.  Agencies therefore need to gather together solid evidence to support their case.  To do this takes time and costs money.  Therefore agencies will want to be pretty sure they can get the result they want before going to court.  You can help by providing as much evidence as possible with as much detail as you can.  They will usually also need to convince the judge that they have tried early intervention techniques like ABCs and failed which is why court action is required.