Anti-social behaviour
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/CrimePrevention/DG_4001652
What is anti-social behaviour?
Anti-social behaviour includes things such as:
•rowdy, noisy behaviour in otherwise quiet neighbourhoods
•night time noise from houses or gardens, especially between 11.00 pm and 7.00 am
•threatening, drunken or ‘yobbish’ behaviour
•vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting
•dealing or buying drugs on the street
•litter and fly-tipping rubbish
•aggressive begging
•drinking in the street
•setting off fireworks late at night
•abandoning cars on the street
Anti-social behaviour doesn’t just make life unpleasant. It can ruin lives and make whole areas feel unsafe.
If you encounter it, report it
If anti-social behaviour is a problem in your area, there’s a lot you can do to help put a stop to it.
You can:
•talk to your neighbours to find out if they’re affected as well
•if you feel comfortable doing so talk to the person causing the problem; they may not realise how it is affecting you
•report the problem to your local council’s anti-social behaviour coordinator
•call your police force’s non-emergency number
•tell your landlord or residents’ association about the situation
•contact your local neighbourhood policing team, or attend one of their regular meetings
If the situation is an emergency (if someone’s life or health is threatened) call 999.
No matter how you report anti-social behaviour, all complaints are treated as confidential. So you don’t have to worry about your identity being revealed.
The council and police both need evidence of what’s happened to you, so keep a note of problems. They should not ask you to do this indefinitely.
Once you have reported the problem, you should be kept informed of progress in your case.
POLICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 1984
(PACE), CODE G, REVISED CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE STATUTORY POWER OF ARREST BY POLICE OFFICERS
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117583/pace-code-g-2012.pdf
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/contents
How to Tackle a Noisy Neighbour – Don’t Retaliate!
“It may be hard to resist but, in the long run, keeping your cool and maintaining the moral high ground will pay dividends. As well as the potential of wrecking neighbour relations completely and spoiling any chance of resolving your situation amicably there is also a more important and legal argument that stands against any form of retaliation.
Your own conduct may, in some circumstances, be an important consideration for enforcers and, ultimately, the courts. If you deliberately create noise to frustrate or as a reaction against perpetrators this will be seen as a malicious action and may amount to a nuisance. In other words, you might end up being the one who ends up in trouble!
The basis for this decision was established way back in 1893 when one man, affected by noise from an adjoining neighbour, banged on walls, beated trays and shouted in retaliation. It was found that his actions constituted a nuisance and an injunction was granted to restrain him.”
http://noisenuisance.org/how-to-tackle-a-noisy-neighbour-dont-retaliate/
Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: Reform of anti-social behaviour powers
Statutory guidance for frontline professionals
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/352562/ASB_Guidance_v8_July2014_final__2_.pdf
Resolving neighbour disputes
“If you have a dispute with your neighbour:
Try to solve the problem informally by talking to them.
If your neighbour is a tenant, you could contact their landlord.
You could use a mediation service if raising the issue informally doesn’t work.
If the dispute involves a statutory nuisance (something like loud music or barking dogs), you can make a complaint to your local council.
Contact the police if your neighbour is breaking the law by being violent or harassing you.
As a last resort you can take legal action through the courts.”
https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/overview
Former Mill Road cafe owner Barry Wilson fined for causing noise nuisance in Cambridge
“The owner of the former Jaffa Net Café in Cambridge has been found guilty of causing a noise nuisance and breaching an abatement notice.
Director Barry Wilson did not attend Cambridge Magistrates Court on June 18 and did not enter a plea but he was convicted in his absence.
Magistrates were satisfied that, although the business has now ceased trading, at the time of the offence in January, it was still operating.
Evidence was presented by Cambridge City Council highlighting regular and persistent complaints about loud music and voices affecting residents of flats in the vicinity of the Mill Road café in the evenings.
Cllr Peter Roberts, Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste, said: “It is unfortunate when anyone focuses on arguing about the noise being created, rather than in resolving the problem and judgements like this are the result.
“I hope that others will learn the lesson, as we would much rather work with people to deal with issues than spend time in the courts.”
Wilson was fined £3,000, costs of £800 and a victim surcharge of £120.”
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Road-cafe-owner-Barry-Wilson-fined-causing-noise/story-26761509-detail/story.html
Evidence of absence
“absence of evidence is not evidence of absence”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evidence_of_absence