Anti-Social Behaviour is defined in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 as:
“Behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people who are not in the same household as the perpetrator”

Examples include

• Noise nuisance
• Verbal Abuse
• Damage to property including vandalism and graffiti
• Intimidating gatherings of people in public places
• Uncontrolled pets and animals
• Racial abuse
• Nuisance from vehicles including parking/abandoned vehicles
• Litter and dumping rubbish
• Begging, Prostitution and kerb crawling

People are often unsure of what to do in particular circumstances therefore the following questions might help to make things clearer.

Q. What if young people are gathering near my house, but not really doing much?
A. If they aren’t causing any problems then leave them alone!
If they are causing problems it is advisable to keep a diary detailing exactly what is happening and then speak to your local Police Officer or alternatively contact the Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator. 

Q. What if I am a council or housing association tenant and the problem is with my neighbours or their children?
A. Contact your Housing Management Officer as they may be in breach of their tenancy agreement.

Q. What if kids are playing football in the street or riding around on their bikes and I find it annoying?
A. It is not against the law to play in the street. Often issues can be resolved by talking to your neighbours.

If you wish to report incidents of anti-social behaviour please contact Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 33 33 and request an incident number for your records.
In addition you can also contact Graham Jarrett - Amber Valley's Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator on 01773 571759.  

Anti-social Behaviour can have devastating affects on communities. We need to work together with all agencies to tackle the causes of anti-social behaviour and identify actions required that will improve everyone’s quality of life.