Civil Law Solutions for Antisocial Behaviour

3 September 2021

As a law student, you will almost certainly encounter the phrase “antisocial behaviour” throughout your studies.Law tutors can help you understand how antisocial behaviour can be covered by both criminal and civil law, depending on the circumstances. Make your work easier with law tutor London.

What is Antisocial Behaviour?

Antisocial behaviour can take many forms. Essentially, it is any behaviour that causes, or is likely to cause, alarm, distress, or harassment to somebody outside of the perpetrator’s household. It can be personal, where an act is directed against an individual or group of people. It can be a nuisance, where actions affect a community. It can be environmental, for example when antisocial acts target buildings or public areas.

Examples of antisocial behaviour include:

• Rowdiness and/or noise nuisance
• Trespassing
• Littering
• Uncontrolled animals
• Begging
• Vehicle nuisance
• Activities related to prostitution
• Drug use
• Hoax calls
• Graffiti

A law tutor can help you distinguish between acts that are classified as antisocial behaviours and those that should instead be prosecuted as a crime. Further, law tutors will assist you to identify the most appropriate remedy, such a civil injunction or the criminal law remedies of CPNs and CPOs.

Civil Remedies for Antisocial Behaviour

• Various agencies, including the police, local councils, social landlords, and the Environment Agency, can apply for a civil injunction.
• Applications are made in the County Court for people aged 18 and above, and in the Youth Court for youngsters aged between 10 and 17.
• A civil injunction prevents a person from continuing to do certain nuisance acts.
• Civil injunctions may also have provisions for a person to address causes of certain behaviours, for example attending specialist programs.
• The length of an injunction depends on the person’s age.

Although not treated as a criminal offence, breach of a civil injunction must be proved to the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt. If proven, it is civil contempt of court. This could result in a detention order (for youths) and imprisonment or a fine (for adults).

Contact Advanced Law Tutors, a top law tutor in London, to learn more about legal solutions for antisocial behaviour.