Volume

Differences in definition, measurement and recording by agencies make it difficult to draw together data on anti-social behaviour at both national and local level. This is further hampered by under-reporting of victims who fear recriminations, believe the incident to be too trivial to report and lack confidence in authorities. What is known about anti-social behaviour is:

• that around 250,000 neighbour disputes were reported each year to local authority and environmental health service departments in England & Wales 8;

• it is perceived by residents to be twice as high in deprived areas than nationally 9

• it is considered to be a medium-to-large problem by three-quarters of social landlords 10