Antisocial Behaviour
Advice on dealing with Antisocial Behaviour
Argyll and Bute Council is committed to tackling anti social behaviour and alleviating the effects anti social behaviour has on those living and working within Argyll and Bute.
The Council’s Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Robert Cowper is based at Scotcourt House, Helensburgh. Robert Cowper can be contacted by telephone on 01436 658831, and will provide information and assistance to those making enquiries from anywhere in Argyll and Bute. This includes members of the public, community groups, businesses and partner agencies.
What are your responsibilities?
Citizens have a responsibility to treat neighbours and others in the wider community with respect. We all have a responsibility to report antisocial behaviour so that it can be stopped and respite offered to victims.
What is antisocial behaviour?
Antisocial behaviour is persistently acting in a manner that causes or is likely to cause alarm or distress to other people. Noisy neighbours, harassment vandalism, rowdy behaviour, littering, fly tipping, and graffiti are examples of antisocial behaviour.
Who can help?
If you rent your home you should report problems with neighbours to your landlord. Council tenants should contact their local housing office. Your landlord will be able to advise you on the steps that can be taken to stop the problem. If you own your own home or want advice you can contact the Council's Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator whose details are on this webpage.
Antisocial behaviour which you consider to be serious or which you think constitutes criminal behaviour should be reported to Strathclyde Police. The Council works closely with Strathclyde Police to deal with anti social behaviour. The Council’s Anti Social Behaviour Strategy created in partnership with the Police and other relevant agencies is available for download here.
If you wish to contact the Council and make a complaint of anti social behaviour this may be done in a number of ways;
1. You may contact the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator whose details are noted on this webpage.
2. If you are a council tenant you may contact your local Housing Office details of the Area Housing Offices are noted on this webpage.
3. If the matter relates to noise you may contact the Council’s Protective Services whose details are noted on this webpage
How are complaints of antisocial behaviour dealt with?
Each complaint of anti social behaviour will be examined according to its own facts and circumstances. Where the anti social behaviour may comprise of criminal behaviour we may contact the Police to discuss matters with them and obtain information from them where appropriate. Noted below are the telephone numbers of the main Police Stations in Argyll and Bute.
Anti Social Behaviour Legislation provides Local Authorities (And Registered Social Landlords such as Housing Associations) with power to apply to the Sheriff Court to obtain an Anti Social Behaviour Order against an individual or individuals preventing them from pursuing a course of conduct which may be annoying or disturbing to members of the public. Seeking an Anti Social Behaviour Order in Court is often regarded as a last resort when other avenues to alleviate the anti social behaviour complained of have been considered and tried. Anti Social Behaviour Orders were initially intended to be complimentary to ie criminal proceedings. Argyll and Bute Council and partners can, in general, when examining a complaint of anti social behaviour deal with the behaviour complained of in a number of ways. This may include making the person complained of aware of their behaviour and requesting them to stop, facilitating mediation between the parties, entering into an “acceptable behaviour contract” with the person complained of to have them acknowledge the anti social behaviour they have been conducting and having them agree that this will not be repeated in future.
There is no absolute obligation on the Local Authority to make application to the Court for an ASBO and before considering whether to do so Local Authorities require to investigate the nature of the complaint, obtain the details of the complainer and the person they are complaining of, obtaining information (perhaps by obtaining statements from the complainer) in regard to the exact nature of the behaviour complained of and ascertain the status of the parties in relation to the properties in which they reside ie owner/occupier, private tenants or tenants of the local authority or registered social landlord. Local Authorities will try to seek practical ways of tackling anti social behaviour before reverting to court proceedings.
ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR SERVICES
Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator
Robert Cowper, Scotcourt House, 45 West Princes Street, Helensburgh, G84 8BP
Tel. 01436 658831
Community Wardens
Community Wardens have an important role to play in deterring crime and antisocial behaviour. The Community Wardens are a visible presence within communities and provide a link between residents, Council services and partner agencies.
Their activities include keeping an eye on properties and vulnerable people; providing household safety advice and supporting neighbourhood watch schemes; reporting incidents of antisocial behaviour such as vandalism, graffiti and noise disturbance to local agencies.
Argyll and Bute Community Wardens operate in the designated areas of Kirkmichael, Craigendoran, Helensburgh Town Centre, Rosneath, Ardenslate, The Glebe and West Milton.
Members of the public wishing to contact the Community Wardens can leave a message on the following dedicated telephone lines:
Helensburgh and Rosneath Area Tel. 01436 679645
Dunoon Area Tel. 01368 708625 or email cowalwardens@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Antisocial Noise
Environmental Health Officers, within the Councils Protective Services, investigate and seek to resolve circumstances where there have been complaints of excessive noise under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This provides control over noise activities including those emanating from commercial activities.
In respect of antisocial behaviour, the Council have adopted the provisions where they can investigate antisocial noise complaints (e.g. noise from TV, hi-fi’s, washing machines etc). We will seek to resolve these informally although in cases where there is a persistent problems or where informal avenues are ineffective we will seek to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice on the person responsible for the noise or recommend that Antisocial Behaviour Order be sought in the Sheriff Court.
In respect of party noise and general disturbance, Strathclyde Police will continue to take the lead in responding to these complaints.
The Antisocial delayed response noise service commences on the 7th November 2005 and is delivered in partnership between the Councils environmental health and Strathclyde Police.
Contact numbers are at the foot of this webpage.
Mediation Services
Mediation Services are available where there is a dispute between two parties. Mediation can be an effective way of resolving neighbour disputes and preventing problems from escalating by establishing agreement between both parties on how future behaviour will be changed. Argyll and Bute Council has access to a number of trained mediators who provide this service. Mediation can be offered to you by the council or this service may be requested by people seeking to resolve a conflict. Information on Mediation Services can be obtained from the Council’s Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator and Housing Services.
CONTACT DETAILS
Anti Social Behaviour Coordinator
Robert Cowper, Scotcourt House, 45 West Princes Street, Helensburgh, G84 8BP
Tel. 01436 658831
Local Housing Offices
Campbeltown, Old Quay Head - 01586 552659
Dunoon, Dolphin Hall - 01369 703735
Helensburgh, 31 James Street - 01436 658700
Islay, Jamieson Street - 01496 301301
Lochgilphead, Dalriada House - 01546 604800
Oban, Albany Street - 01631 567900
Rothesay, Union Street - 01700 501300
Council Protective Services
Dunoon - 01369 703959
Helensburgh - 01436 658911
Lochgilphead - 01546 604775
Oban - 01631 567900
Local Police Stations
Helensburgh – 01436 633600
Lochgilphead – 01546 702200
Dunoon – 01369 763000
Rothesay – 01700 894000
Campbeltown – 01586 862200
Oban – 01631 510500
Community Wardens
Helensburgh and Rosneath Area Tel. 01436 679645
Dunoon Area Tel. 01368 708625 or email cowalwardens@argyll-bute.gov.uk
