What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is defined as: “Acting in a manner that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to one or more persons not of the same household as the person causing the anti-social behaviour”.
Whilst some behaviours can be anti-social, they may not be the types of behaviour that we, or the police, can act upon. For example, young people socialising in the street may be causing you concern, but they may not be doing anything wrong.
We concentrate on anti-social behaviour issues that are persistent and having a detrimental effect on the wider community.
We do this by taking a victim-centred approach, working in partnership with Bedfordshire Police, landlords and other partner agencies, and putting in place long-term action plans to tackle issues robustly and sustainably.
When to contact the Police about anti-social behaviour
Call the Police if the offender is violent, threatening or abusive or is harassing you.
Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if you think there is a crime in progress.
Call 101 to contact the Police if the incident is not an emergency.
You can also contact Bedfordshire Police to report:
- vandalism and criminal damage
- street drinking in the designated PSPO area
- begging and vagrancy
- drugs misuse
- fireworks misuse
- inconsiderate or inappropriate use of vehicles
Contact Bedfordshire Police online
How to deal with neighbour disputes
You may be able to deal with the issues yourself - see our guide to the easy steps you can take to try and resolve any issues you may be having with neighbours.
How to deal with common anti-social behaviour issues
Different ASB issues are dealt by different Council departments. Please select from the options below to ensure your report goes to the correct team.
Use the button below to report environmental issues such as littering, dumped rubbish (fly-tipping), abandoned cars or trolleys or to request street cleaning.
Use the button below to report noise disturbance from a neighbouring property.
Use the button below to report issues with illegally parked vehicles.
Report illegally parked vehicles
Use the button below to report household bins that are regularly left out on streets.
Report household bins left out on streets
Neighbourhood Watch
Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most effective crime reduction initiatives in the UK and is recognised and recommended by the Council, the Police and the Fire and Rescue Service.
ASB and community safety issues we can help with
The Community Safety Team can help with:
- persistent behaviour that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of your life, and that of your neighbours
- rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour linked to a property or location
- exploitation of vulnerable individuals
- long-term, multi-agency problem solving
The Community Safety Team is not able to help with issues such as:
- one-off incidents, such as a party
- parking issues, including parking on verges, pavements and the highway
- young people gathering socially, unless they are being threatening or deliberately intimidating
- noise disturbance
- reasonable behaviour in private homes and gardens
- gossip between individuals
How to report anti-social behaviour to the Community Safety Team
You can report anti-social behaviour to us by using the online form below.
By submitting the form you agree that you have read and accepted how we process your personal data.
Use the button to apply as a guest:
Alternatively, login to / register for a Council Services account to report anti-social behaviour.
If you need any help to complete the form, please contact us at CommunitySafety@bedford.gov.uk
What happens next
All reports to the Community Safety Team will be recorded, with case records maintained in an appropriate and secure manner in line with our data retention and GDPR policies.
We will review all information provided in the initial report to determine whether the case is accepted for further investigation by the Council, or other appropriate teams. The Community Safety Team will contact the reporter within 5 working days of the report being made.
As part of our partnership approach, we may refer cases to other Council teams and partner agencies as necessary.