Key Terms
Acceptable Behaviour Contract
An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) is a written agreement made between the Public Protection and Anti-Social Behaviour (PPASB) Team and a person involved in various types of ASB. The ABC may also be witnessed and supported by the Police, ourselves and/or the individuals landlord.
The ABC is a voluntary agreement and is designed to make an individual aware of his or her anti-social behaviour and its effect on others, with the aim of stopping that behaviour. ABC’s are often made with young people, but they can be used for a person of any age.
Injunction
We can apply for an Injunction at County Court to stop a behaviour that is shown to be public nuisance.
An Injunction prohibits that person from continuing to cause public nuisance and from entering an area where nuisance has been committed. Injunctions may also contain other prohibitions designed to prevent anti-social behaviour.
There are also common law injunctions and these injunctions will stop somebody coming onto your property without your permission or assaulting you.
They can be used to prohibit a person coming within a certain area close to your home or a place they have been aggressive or abusive. An injunction becomes valid once it has been legally served on the person committing the crime.
Criminal Behaviour Order
A Criminal Behaviour Order may be issued against a person who has been convicted of an offence to tackle the most persistently anti-social individuals who are also engaged in criminal activity.
Breach of the order is a criminal offence.
Public Space Protection Orders
Public Space Protection Orders specify an area where activities are taking place that are or may likely be detrimental to the local communities quality of life.
PSPOs impose conditions or restrictions on people using that area, such as alcohol bans or putting up gates.
Closure Orders
In certain circumstances, properties that are associated with anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance or drug dealing can be temporarily closed by local authorities or Police for a period of 3 months.
Community Protection Notice
A Community Protection Notice can be issued to stop a business, organisation or person over the age of 16 committing anti-social behaviour which spoils the community's quality of life.
It can be used to deal with particular on-going problems or nuisances which negatively impact on or affect the community, by targeting those responsible. It can cover a wide range of anti-social behaviours and can be used against a wide range of perpetrators.