What is anti-social behaviour?

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, Crime and Policing Act 2014).

There are three main categories of anti-social behaviour:

  • Personal anti-social behaviour is when a person targets a specific individual or group.
  • Nuisance anti-social behaviour is when a person causes trouble, annoyance or suffering to a community.
  • Environmental anti-social behaviour is when a person’s actions affect the wider environment, such as public spaces or buildings.