Ipswich Borough Council is reinforcing its commitment to creating safer, more welcoming public spaces for all residents and visitors, and tackling anti-social behaviour head-on.
The Council’s Executive will consider a report setting out a new Anti-Social Behaviour - Community Policy at its meeting today, Tuesday 8 July.
This policy covers the range of Council activities taken to ensure that people in Ipswich are able to live and work in environments free from a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance and annoyance, or harm and distress to a person. It outlines a clear and consistent approach to addressing anti-social behaviour (ASB) in areas such as town centres, parks, churchyards, and private sector housing. It also focuses on early intervention, support, and enforcement, ensuring that incidents such as vandalism, intimidation, and noise nuisance are dealt with swiftly, effectively and fairly.
Developed in consultation with Suffolk Constabulary, other agencies, and local partner organisations, the policy aligns with national legislation which defines ASB as conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. This includes the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003, and ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It also complements a policy the Council already has in place for ASB related to its own housing tenants, and a proposed Managing Unacceptable Behaviour Policy that will take a consistent and coordinated approach to safeguard both residents and Council staff from this type of behaviour.
Key features of the Anti-Social Behaviour - Community Policy include:
- Provides clarity for residents and communities on how ASB is tackled and handled by Ipswich Borough Council.
- Encourages reporting of ASB by residents, employees, and visitors to the Council, and of criminal activity to the Police.
- Sets out a structured approach to assessing and resolving ASB cases, with use of both informal methods (such as mediation or warnings) and legal sanctions when necessary.
- Includes a focus on hate crime, with a commitment to support victims and take action against perpetrators.
- Ensures equality and diversity in policy implementation.
Councillor John Cook, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Communities and Sport, says:
“This policy reinforces our ongoing commitment to tackling and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough, including incidents in public spaces. It also clearly sets out how the Council and its partners will work quickly, efficiently, and proactively to deal robustly with those who are causing ASB, to prevent further incidents from taking place.”
Following approval, the policy will be published on the Council’s website alongside a detailed procedure document to guide residents on how to report ASB and what to expect from the Council’s response. It will also be reviewed regularly to reflect changes in law or best practices.
Full details of the report to Executive for agreement can be found at: Agenda for Executive on Tuesday 8th July 2025, 6.00 pm | Democracy Online | Ipswich Borough Council