Antisocial Behaviour (ASB)
Strategically, antisocial behaviour is one of the community safety priorities, which is aimed at maintaining and improving the quality of life in our communities.
The Antisocial Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2004 defines it as, "acting in a manner that causes or is likely to cause alarm or distress."
For behaviour to be classed as Antisocial it must be persistent, this means that "one off" incidents may not be classed as antisocial behaviour, however, these incidents could still be criminal, so it is important that you contact Police Scotland if you have been the victim of a crime.
Examples of incidents the Community Safety Partners (CSP) deal with include:
- Deliberate Fires
- Environmental issues
- Antisocial Behaviour
- Hate Crime
- Neighbourhood Complaints
- Vandalism
- Youth Calls
- Off-Road Bikes causing ASB
Working within the communities, the CSP include Police Scotland Community Officers, West Lothian Council Safer Neighbourhood Team Officers (SNT), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Officers along with Health and Social Care Partnership colleagues and voluntary services.
Low Level Neighbour Complaints
Housing Officers work with the Estates Team and investigate low level neighbour complaints like domestic living noise, dog barking and issues relating to parking and bins.
Noise Complaints
The SNT investigate complaints from residents who are experiencing problems with excessive noise from within their communities including loud music and noise from parties, entertainment noise from licensed premises, car alarms, and intruder alarms from both domestic and business premises. The Safer Neighbourhood Team will determine what behaviour constitutes Antisocial Behaviour following their investigation. The team can use a variety of measures to help put an end to antisocial behaviour and noise complaints, as well as providing a witnessing service. find more information on ASB frequently asked questions (FAQ'S)
Antisocial Behaviour
The SNT will deal with more serious issues of ASB, registered as an INCIDENT. SNT officers will make enquiries and work to resolve the issue at this point and avoid escalation of complaints and further incidents. Managing customers expectations is important and complainers are informed what SNT can do within the legislation available.
If a complaint cannot be resolved immediately, then a CASE is opened and SNT officers will make further enquiries and work with Community Safety Partners where necessary, in order to reach a positive outcome for the complainer and community concerned. Mediation may be offered as an intervention to help resolve the issue.
Warnings and Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Whilst working in the Community Safety Unit with partners, SNT officers will make enquiries and carry out investigations into complaints of antisocial behaviour and where necessary provide warnings to people about their behaviour. In most cases, people will reassess their behaviour and the impact it has on others but on some occasions, evidence is collated and the SNT officers will apply for an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) for those who refuse to modify and change their actions.
SNT would encourage people to report incidents of excessive noise or antisocial behaviour when it is happening. SNT duty times for witnessing loud music are, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 9:30 am to midnight, Wednesday 9:30am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday to 4am and Sunday to 8pm.
SNT service times are :
Monday 09:30 - 00:00
Tuesday 09:30 - 00:00
Wednesday 09:30 - 19:00
Thursday 09:30 - 00:00
Friday 09:30 - 04:00
Saturday 10:30 - 04:00
Sunday 10:30 - 20:00
Contact Information
To contact the service for advice and assistance, local residents should call:
- Police Scotland on 101, or
- West Lothian Council Customer Contact Centre on 01506 280000.
- Email the Community Safety Unit (opens new window)
