Crime reduction 

Why does anti-social behaviour happen?

Anti-social behaviour may happen for several reasons.

There are four main areas of factors that increase the risk of anti-social behaviour taking place, according to Home Office research. These are:

Family environment

• Poor parental discipline and supervision.
• Family conflict (between parents, or between parents and children).
• Family history of problem behaviour.
• Parental involvement/attitudes condoning problem behaviour.

School and education attainment

• Aggressive behaviour - bullying, for example.
• Lack of commitment to school.
• School exclusion and truancy patterns.
• Low achievement at school.

Community life, accommodation, employment

• Drugs and alcohol.
• Lack of involvement with the local neighbourhood.
• Growing up in a deprived area within low income families, high rates of unemployment and a high turnover of population.
• Areas where there are high levels of vandalism.

Personal and individual

• Alienation and lack of social commitment.
• Early involvement in problem behaviour.
• Attitudes that condone problem behaviour.
• For young people, a high proportion of unsupervised time spent with peers and friends, or peers involved in problem behaviour.
• Mental illness.
• Early involvement in the use of illegal drugs and crime.