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• Advice
• Business
• Community
• Your council
• Environment
• Events
• Leisure and culture
• Jobs

• Antisocial behaviour
• Tackling antisocial behaviour
• Antisocial behaviour in parks
• Report ASB
• Noise
• On-street drinking
• Litter and graffiti
• Quad bikes and scramblers
• Clean Neighbourhoods Act
• Enforcement Policy

Tackling Antisocial Behaviour

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) is wrong, it is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it in Belfast.

Antisocial behaviour is defined as "acting in a manner that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself" - Antisocial Behaviour (Northern Ireland) Order 2004.

We adopt a number of different approaches in tackling antisocial behaviour. These include prevention, education and awareness, advice, warning and enforcement. In some circumstances we have the powers or services to deal with the problem alone. However, in other cases we may need the support or input of other organisations to resolve the complaint.

If you want to report an incident of ASB contact the PSNI in the first instance on 0845 600 8000.

Types of antisocial behaviour

You can report various types of antisocial behaviour to us:

• Environmental antisocial behaviour - Antisocial behaviour which affects the environment in a negative way, for example graffiti, littering, fly posting, fly tipping or persistent dog fouling. We have limited powers to respond to incidents on private property.
  
  
• Noise nuisance - We expect neighbours to tolerate reasonable levels of noise associated with home life and to resolve minor incidents by talking with their neighbour. However, when the levels are too great, we can take action to deal with noise nuisance. We can also take action against excessive and after hours noise from pubs, clubs and other venues with an an entertainment licence.
  
  
• General rowdy and nuisance behaviour - This includes people causing annoyance, fighting and drunken behaviour. If the behaviour is currently happening it should be reported to the PSNI.

• Find out more about Reporting ASB

Antisocial behaviour on Council property

We take the lead in tackling antisocial behaviour on premises and open spaces which are our responsibility.

However, on some occasions antisocial behaviour can fall between the responsibilities of several agencies (for example, verbal abuse, drinking, intimidating gatherings of people and damage to property). When this happens we will work with our partners to deal with the issue.