Aggressive behaviour towards our customers will be dealt with as anti-social behaviour. This may be verbal or physical aggression. If you are in fear of this aggressive behaviour, this may be a crime and you should report it to the police. You should let us know so that we can investigate.

Alcohol use is legal and is not anti-social behaviour. However, excessive use of alcohol can cause behaviour which is of concern for the individual or those around them. For us to consider alcohol use anti-social behaviour it would need to fall into one of the other categories.

We will signpost those with alcohol addiction to support services.

If someone has set fire to something you should contact the emergency services by calling 999 and asking for the fire service. If you believe that the fire has been caused deliberately then you should also report this to the police on 101.

If the person who has deliberately caused the fire is one of our tenants/customers, we will work with the emergency services to take action. This would be dealt with as anti-social behaviour.

If you are assaulted or you witness someone being assaulted, this is a crime and you should report this to the police. Depending on the severity of the assault, this may be a call made to 999 or 101.

Once the police have been informed, you should contact your neighbourhood officer if the person carrying out the assault is one of our tenants. If they are not, we would not be able to take any action and this would remain a police matter.

If the person carrying out the assault is one of our tenants/customers, then we will investigate this as anti-social behaviour.

If you are worried that someone’s bins are overflowing, or that they are not regularly put out or taken in, the best way to handle this is by speaking with your neighbour to make sure that they understand why this concerns you. Take a look at the Neighbour Issues section of this directory to find out how to contact your neighbour in the best way.

For anyone having a bonfire as a one off, the fire service provide advice and guidance on how to do this safely:

• Fireworks and Bonfire Safety – West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Fireworks and Bonfire Night Safety – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

They also ask that the control room is informed of any planned bonfires:

• Garden safety and planned controlled burning – West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
• Countryside, controlled burning and garden bonfires – North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service

Issues with fences or other types of boundary will not be dealt with as anti-social behaviour unless there is criminal damage.

If someone has caused criminal damage to the fence or boundary then this should be reported to the police first and we will investigate as anti-social behaviour.

One off celebrations or parties will not usually be dealt with as anti-social behaviour. If you’re planning a party or a celebration, we recommend that you let your neighbours know that there’s a celebration happening and what time it will carry on until.

Children playing will not usually be dealt with as anti-social behaviour. The only time where this may be considered is if property is damaged as a result.

For more details on what steps are available to you to discuss this with your neighbours, see our Neighbourhood Management Policy.

County Lines is a term used for when drugs are moved from one area to another. The drugs are often moved by children or vulnerable people who are encouraged into it by gangs. This is a crime and should be reported to the police. If you are concerned that someone is in physical danger, then you should report this by calling 999, otherwise it can be reported on 101.

Once you have reported the crime, you should also speak with your neighbourhood officer as we will deal with this as anti-social behaviour.

If a crime is happening, you should report this to the police first. For emergencies dial 999, or non-emergencies call 101. Once you have reported your concerns to the police, then we can give you advice on what we can do to help.

This is when damage is caused to something because of a crime. The crime itself may be forced entry into a property, graffiti or arson.

This should be reported to the police first. You should then report any damage to property that belongs to us to our repairs team so that the damage can be repaired. You should then let your Neighbourhood Officer know as this will be dealt with as anti-social behaviour.