Anti-social behaviour

english

Anti-social behaviour is a term frequently used in the United Kingdom and in Latin America. In the United Kingdom, it is defined in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, as behaviour “that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more persons not of the same household as himself; behaviour which causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to one or more people who are not in the same household as the perpetrator”. It includes graffiti, destruction of public property, public gathering of individuals seen as menacing, abusive or intimidating language, excessive noise, littering, drunken behaviour, drug dealing, and other behaviour perceived as having a negative influence on the quality of life and livelihood of certain areas. Elsewhere, we use the terms “incivilities”, “irritants” or “nuisances” to refer to a set of behaviours and situations which are not illegal per se, but which go against normally accepted rules of civil society; these may lead to increased fear of crime among residents and other users of public space. This category also encompasses other behaviours cited above. Depending on the country, the term “nuisance’’ is often used. It is used in particular, in Belgium, without negative connotations, to designate the inconvenience felt by users and residents of public spaces.

Source: ICPC International Report 2010, pp. 185

french: Comportement anti-social

spanish: Molestias públicas

french: Comportement antisocial