Recording incidents of ASB

Recording re-occurring incidents of anti-social behaviour and harassment

If you have reported a problem to us, we may ask you to fill in an Incident Diary to record re-occurring incidents of anti-social behaviour or harassment. They should be completed as soon as possible after the incident and should only contain things which you have seen or heard.

What are they used for?

In addition to providing us with the right information to decide what further action to take, they are used;

to prove a pattern of behaviour by the perpetrator(s);
to provide evidence for warning letters to be sent, or legal action to be started;
to prepare legal notices to end a tenancy;
as evidence in court cases such as for Injunctions, Possession Orders and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs); or,
to help to prepare witness statements for use in court.

Incident Diaries are confidential and the information on them will not be divulged to the alleged perpetrators unless they are used in court. They will not be used in court without your permission.

What must I remember?

It is very important that you remember to record every incident, you are providing evidence! Should we take legal action we need a carefully written-down description of every incident. A court will only accept this information if it’s written in a certain way.

What shall I do with the completed Incident Diary?

You can return them to your Neighbourhood Officer who is dealing with your case. Make sure you make, or ask for, a copy of the Incident Diary before you return it to us. If you are making your first report of this anti-social behaviour or harassment problem online, you may also attach the Incident Diary to your report.

How many must I complete?

There is no minimum or maximum amount. You must complete Incident Diaries for as long as the nuisance continues, especially if legal action starts, as it is very important to prove to the court that the nuisance is ongoing.

Visit the anti-social behaviour pages of the Home Office's website for for general information about what anti-social behaviour is, and what you can do if you encounter it.

If you have a nuisance neighbour and they are a homeowner, private sector or council tenant, you should contact your local authority to lodge a complaint. If they are a housing association tenant, contact the housing association directly.

Top tip

If the anti-social behaviour you’re experiencing is causing you alarm, you may want to speak to your local neighbourhood police.