Anti-Social Behaviour
The Anti-Social Behaviour Act gained Royal Assent in 2003 as a result of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998. The Government also launched the Together Action Plan in October 2003.
Anti-Social Behaviour can blight the lives of individuals and whole communities and remains a key area of concern for the public.
The term anti social behaviour covers a wide range of unacceptable activity that can have a negative effect on individuals and communities quality of life. Examples of anti social behaviour include:
- rowdy and intimidating groups,
- nuisance neighbours,
- verbal abuse and intimidation.
Anti Social Behaviour also includes environmental crime including: fly tipping and graffiti.
The legal definition of anti social behaviour is behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment alarm and or distress to others.
Winchester City Council takes tackling anti social behaviour very seriously. In order to address this issue Winchester City Council works in partnership with other agencies who form the Winchester Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Membership of the CSP includes Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire County Council. However, the most important partner in tackling anti social behaviour is YOU as members of the public.
New Update: September 2008
Winchester City Council continues to take action against individuals and the police can arrest people, but without information and support from the public this action cannot be successfully put in place. In September the Council and the CSP launched their online reporting system which can be used by residents to report isolated incidents of anti social behaviour.
For more information about how to get involved, reporting anti social behaviour and what the partnership can do please refer to the related web link.