What is anti-social behaviour?

The key to categorising behaviour as anti-social must be consideration of its impact on others.

The term 'anti-social behaviour' includes a variety of behaviour covering a whole complex of selfish and unacceptable activity that can blight the quality of community life. Other terms such as 'nuisance', 'neighbour disputes' and 'disorder' are also used to describe some of this behaviour.

A legal definition of behaving in an anti-social manner is found in the Anti-social Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 and many agencies tackling anti-social behaviour have adopted this definition for more general purposes. It defines anti-social behaviour as 'acting in an anti-social manner as a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the complainant'.

This definition is also used in relation to anti-social behaviour orders.

For the purposes of seeking a housing injunction or a demotion order, anti-social behaviour is defined in the Housing Order (Northern Ireland) 2003 as: 'conduct causing or likely to cause nuisance or annoyance'.

Further general advice on tackling anti-social behaviour is available on www.together.gov.uk