Antisocial behaviour

We provide help to North Ayrshire Council residents who are victims of antisocial behaviour.

Antisocial behaviour can affect quality of life and causes, or is likely to cause, distress or alarm. It includes:

• threats
• drug dealing
• theft
• vandalism

Harassment is the deliberate interference with the peace, comfort or safety of any person. This includes graffiti, damage to property, abuse and threats. Harassing anyone on grounds of:

• race
• colour
• religious or other belief
• gender
• age
• sexual orientation
• physical or mental disability
• nationality
• ethnic origin

is a breach of the North Ayrshire Council Tenancy Agreement and can be a criminal offence.

Tenants must not cause nuisance to their neighbours. Nuisance includes persistent noise which causes distress to others, for example:

• music
• dogs
• cars

Tenants are responsible for the behaviour of household members and visitors. When you sign a tenancy agreement you agree to behave in a responsible way in and around your home.

If you are affected by antisocial behaviour or harassment contact our Antisocial Behaviour Team, or Police Scotland.

For advice about deliberate fire setting please see Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Our specialist team can help. We need details of the problem, so keep a diary of events.

If a problem involves a breach of the Tenancy Agreement, we can take legal action.

If the problem is with a private household contact us for advice.

You may take private action against the person. You will need to contact a solicitor to do this. Get advice from Citizens Advice Scotland, or a solicitor.

The Home Security Project supports anyone living in North Ayrshire who is suffering from domestic abuse, or continual and persistent antisocial behaviour.

The project will give you access to a co-ordinator who is trained in assessing risk, preventing crime, and dealing with domestic abuse and antisocial behaviour.

If you are a tenant of ours or a housing association tenant, ask your local Housing Office to refer you to the project, or contact:

• Women’s Aid - phone 01294 602424
• Victim Support - phone 01294 277040
• Police Scotland - phone 101

You will be contacted to arrange a home visit with a project co-ordinator. During the visit they will:

• ask questions to find out the best way to help
• survey your home to see if it can be made more secure
• assess whether to arrange extra support from specialist agencies

Improved security measures might include:

• security chains
• peep holes
• slip bolts
• security lights patio-door bolts
• window locks
• personal attack alarm
• monitored panic alarm

If you are a tenant of a housing association or private landlord, we will need to get permission from your landlord before we make any improvements to your home.

Noise travels. Sometimes people aren't aware of how much noise can be heard elsewhere in a building.

Try to explain the problem, politely, to your neighbour. If the situation does not improve, contact us for advice. You may wish to make a noise complaint.

The North Ayrshire Council Tenancy Agreement requires tenants to be considerate to neighbours and keep animals under control. If you are troubled by dogs contact the Dog Warden.