Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) occurs when "a person has acted in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as him/herself" (Crime and Disorder Act 1998). It may be noise nuisance, verbal abuse, criminal damage or other forms of harassment.
There are two main methods for dealing with ASB. These are:
- An Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) - this is a command issued by a magistrate which aims to prevent an individual acting in an anti-social manner by placing restrictions on his/her ability to be in certain places at certain times. Failure to comply can result in a fine or imprisonment. This has had a considerable impact on improving the quality of life for a large number of residents.
- An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) - An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC), also known as an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement, is an intervention designed to engage the individual in recognising their behaviour and its negative effects on others, in order to stop the offending behaviour. An ABC is a written agreement between an anti-social behaviour perpetrator and their Local Authority, Youth Offending Team, Housing provider or the Police. ABCs are usually used for young people but can also be used for adults.
If you are experiencing ASB, you should contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070 999.
Sussex Police have also created dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour pages, where you will also find an Anti-Social Behaviour pages (external link).
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