ASB Awareness Week: Understanding Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)

What is Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)?

ASB refers to behaviour that causes harassment, alarm, or distress to others, particularly where it is persistent, deliberate, or has a significant impact on someone’s quality of life.

Everyone has the right to enjoy their home, but this should not negatively affect those around them. For us to take formal action, behaviour must meet a defined threshold based on evidence, frequency, and impact.

Examples of ASB

ASB can take many forms, including:

• Verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation
• Ongoing neighbour disputes that escalate into distress or conflict
• Vandalism or damage to property
• Drug or alcohol-related nuisance
• Hate-related incidents targeting individuals or groups
• Persistent noise nuisance (e.g. loud music, shouting, or banging late at night over a period of time)

What is not considered ASB?

Not all concerns are classed as anti-social behaviour. Living in a community means accepting a level of everyday noise and differences in lifestyle.

Examples that would not usually be considered ASB include:

• Children playing, particularly during the day
• Occasional social gatherings
• Differences in daily routines, such as shift work
• General household noise such as footsteps, doors closing, or appliances

The importance of tolerance

Living in close proximity to others requires understanding and tolerance. People lead different lives and use their homes in different ways.

For example, a household with young children may have periods of increased noise, or a night-shift worker may need to cook, shower, or move around late in the evening. While noticeable, these are normal aspects of daily living and not anti-social behaviour.

That said, we recognise that even everyday noise can become a concern if it is persistent and significantly affects your quality of life.

We encourage customers to consider this before reporting concerns and, where appropriate, try to resolve minor issues informally and respectfully.

When to contact the police

Some situations require police involvement rather than reporting solely to your housing provider.

You should contact the police if incidents involve:

• Threats or acts of violence
• Serious harassment or hate crime
• Drug dealing or criminal activity
• Damage to property in progress
• Any situation where you feel at immediate risk

Call 999 in an emergency or 101 for non-emergencies.

It is important that serious incidents are reported to the police so they can take appropriate action. In many cases, we may not be able to take further action without a crime reference number where criminal behaviour is involved.

You can report non emergencies online at

Report antisocial behaviour | Cheshire Constabulary

How ASB affects communities

ASB can significantly impact individuals and neighbourhoods, leading to:

• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep disruption
• Feeling unsafe at home
• Strained relationships between neighbours
• Reduced community confidence and pride

Everyone deserves to feel safe and comfortable in their home.

Working together to tackle ASB

Addressing ASB is a shared responsibility. We are committed to investigating reports where there is clear evidence and taking appropriate action.

We ask customers to:

• Be mindful of how their behaviour affects others
• Treat neighbours with respect
• Report genuine ASB concerns promptly
• Contact the police where behaviour is serious or criminal
• Try to resolve minor concerns informally where possible
• Not assume someone else will report an issue. We can only act on concerns that are reported to us

Creating safe and respectful communities relies on everyone playing their part.

Reporting ASB

If you are experiencing anti-social behaviour, please report it through the appropriate channels.

When reporting, please provide as much detail as possible, including:

• Dates and times of incidents
• What happened and how it affected you
• Any supporting evidence (e.g. photos, recordings, diary sheets)

This helps us assess the situation and take appropriate action more effectively.

You can report ASB to us via 

• Phone: 0800 012 1311
• Online report via our website: www.peaksplains.org
• Email ASB team at ASBprevention@peaksplains.org

Creating Respectful Communities

Small actions make a big difference. By showing consideration, tolerance, and respect, we can create communities where everyone feels safe, supported, and at home.

Meet the Team

This video introduces some of the people who work behind the scenes to support our customers and tackle anti-social behaviour. Our teams work closely with residents every day, listening to concerns, offering advice, and taking action where appropriate.

We understand that every situation is different, which is why we take a fair and balanced approach, focusing on understanding the full picture and working with those involved to find the right outcome. By working together with our customers and partners, we aim to create safer, more respectful communities for everyone.