Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour covers a wide range of activities from graffiti, dumped rubbish and abandoned cars to relentless noise, nuisance neighbours and intimidation. It is any kind of repeated behaviour that is likely to cause harm, harassment or distress, and is often carried out by individuals who live near to you.
Remember – if you have been a victim or witness of a crime you should contact the police.
- In an emergency always dial 999.
- If your call is a non-emergency dial 0845 60 70 999.
What you can do about it
If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour there are some things you can do to help resolve the situation.
- Keep a record of all acts of anti-social behaviour, including times, dates and details of the activity. This can be sent to any organisation you report the problem to and is one of the best ways of gathering evidence.
- Speak to the person responsible for the nuisance if you feel confident to do so. This is best done when you are calm.
- Contact a third party to help resolve the matter. Below is a guide to reporting specific types of anti-social behaviour.
How to report anti-social behaviour
Contact the police about:
- intimidation and harassment
- using and selling drugs
- damage to property
- unprovoked assault
- repeated unauthorised use of premises.
Any of the anti-social behaviour listed above should be reported directly to the Police. Call 999 if it is an emergency or 0845 60 70 999 for non-emergencies.
Find out more about reporting racist incidents and homophobic incidents in our section about hate crime.
Contact district and borough councils about:
Find contact details for your District or Borough Council.
Use the fault reporting system to report:
- graffiti and vandalism
- fly-tipping
- abandoned vehicles.
Fault reporting system.
Contact East Sussex Trading Standards to report:
Reporting other types of anti-social behaviour, including:
- nuisance neighbours
- rowdy behaviour
- groups hanging around
- street drinking
- aggressive begging.
Where you report these problems depends on which district or borough of East Sussex that the incidents occurs in.
Remember, if the incident requires immediate attention you should contact the police on 0845 60 70 999 in the first instance.
Crime and disorder reduction partnerships
Anti-social behaviour undermines our communities and creates an environment of fear and neglect. Tackling anti-social behaviour is a key priority for East Sussex County Council and all local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs). To find out more about CDRPs in East Sussex, see our page about crime in local areas.
