 
The week of 30th June – 6 July is the UK’s national ASB Awareness Week, which is supported by HM Government, the Civil Service, all Police and Fire forces in the country, Historic England, and thousands of housing providers, local authorities and community groups.
To mark ASB Awareness Week, residents are invited to join the FREE webinars being hosted each day of the week by Resolve, who spearhead the ASB Awareness Week campaign, which offer advice and information about ASB.
Please click the button below to learn more, and look out for the hashtag #MakingCommunitiesSafer throughout the week to see what is taking place locally and nationally.
 
Antisocial behaviour is defined as 'behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person' (Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003 and Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011).
In practice, what does this mean and what can agencies and communities do to address it?
ASB is not one type of behaviour and is instead a wide range of behaviours that can cause a nuisance or annoyance to others. The following are some examples of ASB:
- Shouting, swearing and fighting
- Neighbour disputes
- Noise related nuisance
- Abusive behaviour with the intent to cause distress
- Flytipping of rubbish
- Harassment and intimidation
- Damage and vandalism
- Driving in a way to cause a nuisance
The above list is not exhaustive and depending on the circumstances may also be criminal behaviour depending on the available evidence.
 
Differences in lifestyles, opinions and personalities do not constitute ASB. The following behaviours are also not typically considered ASB (unless there is an aggravating factor):
- Parking (including badly parked vehicles)
- Children playing
- Neighbours doing DIY (at reasonable times of the day)
- Groups of people in the street or in parks, unless they are being rowdy, abusive, causing damage or committing other crimes
- Noise caused by everyday living
- Religious or cultural practice
- A one-off party
- General living noise
 
East Herts Council is part of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) that works closely with partners to address crime, disorder and ASB in the district.
The CSP is made up of statutory and non-statutory partners:
 
We understand that if you're a victim of ASB it can be a very challenging time for you and your household. Support is available to help East Herts residents through this:
Under the ASB Crime and Policing Act (2014) the CSP has a range of powers to tackle ASB. The CSP take the following factors into account when considering what action is needed:
- The type of behaviour
- The severity and frequency of incidents
- The evidence that is available
- The impact that the behaviour is having
- Who else is being affected
- Whether the person/people whose behaviour is causing problems has been given an opportunity to change it (depending on the severity of it) and whether there has been an improvement
- What other intervention(s) has/ have been considered or tried so far
The powers available to the CSP in their efforts to combat ASB include:
Community Protection Warnings (CPW) and Notices (CPNS)
CPWs can be issued to anyone over the age of 16, as well as businesses, and can be used to deal with a wide range of ongoing ASB or nuisances which are having a detrimental effect on the community’s quality of life by targeting those responsible. Should there not be an improvement in the behaviour then a CPN could be issued. Failure to comply with a CPN could lead to a prosecution or Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN)
In 2024 the CSP issued 54 CPWs and nine CPNs.
So far in 2025, 17 CPWs have been issued and two CPNs.
Closure Orders
The closure order gives a power to close a property completely or partially and to prevent access by any persons – even those who live there. A closure order comes into force immediately after the court makes the order.
  Other Interventions To Stop ASB
In addition to enforcement powers, the CSP will always consider preventative and early intervention, often called a staged approach, to stop the ASB:
Encouraging residents to talk to the person responsible
If you know who is causing the problem and you feel safe to do so, speak to your neighbour. Explain how their activities or behaviour is affecting you. They might not be aware and likely to appreciate you letting them know. This approach can often help to build and sustain neighbourly relationships. Advice can be provided by the CSP on how to approach this.
Good Neighbour Agreements
Good neighbour agreements set standards, clarifying acceptable behaviour and highlighting the consequences of unacceptable behaviour. This is a voluntary agreement to obtain a commitment from residents that they, their family and visitors will contribute to a safe and welcoming neighbourhood by showing respect and tolerance to neighbours and their local community.
Mediation
Mediation can play a key role in resolving situations that aren’t officially ASB but are on the fringes and need early intervention. Participating in mediation can bridge the gap between people resolving their own conflicts and resorting to formal proceedings. Mediation gives the power to individuals to take control and resolve a situation with the support of a neutral third-party mediator. Not only can mediation help with any immediate concerns, but it can also prevent future issues from arising.
Community Engagement
The CSP will look to engage with residents to help gather evidence and provide support for those who may be affected or causing ASB. This may include writing to all residents asking them to complete a short survey, conducting door knocks or arranging community events and ASB drop-in sessions.
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