Antisocial Behaviour

Antisocial Behaviour is behaviour that causes distress or alarm to members outwith the immediate household of the perpatrator. This can include noise nuisance, littering, dog fouling and abusive behaviour.

Orkney Islands Council does not tolerate antisocial behaviour and uses its powers to take action to resolve issues where necessary. We are committed to ensuring that Orkney remains a nice place to live and part of this is ensuring that communities are able to live peacefully. We have an Anti Social Behaviour Strategy which can be downloaded through Related Downloads on the left of this web page or a paper copy requested from the Council Offices.

All Council tenants are required to sign up to a "Good Neighbour Charter", further details on this are contained in our Antisocial Behaviour leaflet, also available on the left of this web page.

Who Should I Contact Regarding Antisocial Behaviour?

If you have concerns about a Council tenants behaviour, please contact the Housing Management on 873535 for advice.

If you have concerns about the behaviour of a private tenant or an owner occupier, please contact Development and Environment Services on 873535 for advice.

Both teams work closely together and will explain to you what action can be taken and keep you up to date with progress. Please note that it can take some time to resolve issues and we rely on your help. Keeping log sheets of the behaviour is very helpful.

If the problem is urgent and occurs outwith office hours, for example a noisy party late at night, please contact the Police Station on 872241. The Police will keep a record of the call out and notify the Council on the next working day.

What Action Will the Council Take?

The Council has a range of powers to deal with antisocial behaviour. The aim of these powers is to tackle and reduce antisocial behaviour rather than move the problem elsewhere. The measures available to us are as follows:

• Verbal and Written warnings
• Acceptable Behaviour Contracts

This is a voluntary agreement between an individual identified as being responsible for antisocial behaviour and one or more agencies. The agencies normally involved will be Orkney Islands Council, Orkney Housing Association Ltd and Northern Constabulary.

• A Notice of Proceedings

This could lead to action to evict the tenant where the behaviour does not cease. Private landlords may also take action against their tenants and the Council would provide support for this.

• Court Action

This could include interdicts, evictions and/or Antisocial Behaviour Orders. Specific Implements can also be applied for. These require an individual to do something, for example where a tenant refuses to move a scrapped car from their garden the Specific Implement could require them to do this.

Further information on the action we can take and details of the above measures can be obtained from Housing Management. If you have any concerns or queries about Antisocial Behaviour please do not hesitate to contact us.