Did you know? Antisocial behaviour (ASB) Awareness week starts on Monday
Arun District Council is supporting ASB Awareness Week (29 June - 5 July), a national campaign that raises awareness of the impact of antisocial behaviour and how we all can play our part to mitigate it.
How antisocial behaviour (ASB) is defined:
Actions that cause harassment, alarm, or distress to others, or that negatively impact the community's quality of life.
Simple explanation includes:
- disruption to people's daily lives
- making others feel unsafe or uncomfortable
- damaging public or private property
Common examples include:
- loud noise or nuisance neighbours
- vandalism or graffiti
- aggressive or threatening behaviour
- littering or fly-tipping
- misuse of public spaces such as drinking, drug use, or disorderly conduct
In short, anti-social behaviour is anything that harms or disrupts others and makes an area feel unsafe or unpleasant.
We are committed
The council is fully committed to tackling ASB and hate crime in the district and supporting residents who are affected by it. ASB can have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities, undermining feelings of safety and wellbeing. Campaigns like ASB Awareness Week provide an important opportunity to raise awareness, encourage reporting, and feature the work being done locally to address these issues.
A coordinated approach to tackling ASB
Arun District Council works closely with Sussex Police, West Sussex County Council, housing providers and other partner agencies through the Community Safety Partnership to reduce ASB and support victims. Our approach is pro-active, victim-focused, and rooted in early intervention.
Key areas of our work ...
Early intervention and prevention
We engage with individuals at the earliest stage to address behaviours before they escalate, using warnings, acceptable behaviour agreements, and targeted support.
Support for victims
We take reports of ASB seriously and work to ensure victims feel heard, supported, and kept informed throughout the process.
Partnership enforcement
Where necessary, we use a range of enforcement tools, including Community Protection Notices, Public Spaces Protection Orders, and Civil Injunctions, to protect residents and maintain safe public spaces.
Community engagement
Our specialised ASB team regularly engage with local communities, residents' groups, and businesses to understand concerns, build trust, and promote reporting channels.
Environmental improvements
We address factors that contribute to ASB, such as poor lighting and graffiti, helping to create safer and more welcoming neighbourhoods.
Encouraging reporting and community action
A key message during ASB Awareness Week is the importance of reporting antisocial behaviour. We encourage residents to report incidents so that appropriate action can be taken and patterns of behaviour can be identified.
Residents can report ASB to Arun District Council through our website here: Report anti-social behaviour (ASB) | Arun District Council
In urgent situations where someone is at risk of harm or where criminal activity is taking place, always call 999 and ask for the police.
Working together for a safer Arun
ASB Awareness Week highlights that tackling antisocial behaviour is everyone's responsibility. By ensuring residents, agencies, and partners are working together, we can create stronger, safer communities where everyone feels secure and respected.
Arun District Council will continue to invest in prevention, partnership working, and enforcement to ensure that ASB is effectively addressed and that our communities remain safe places to live, work, and visit.
For more information on how the council responds to antisocial behaviour please visit our website here: Antisocial behaviour | Arun District Council
Together, we can build safer, stronger communities.