Understanding the issue
Groups of teenagers gathering in public spaces make the news regularly, often linked to reports of anti-social behaviour. These headlines grab attention, but most young people who hang around together in your neighbourhood are simply socialising and pose no threat to anyone.
Teenagers often congregate outdoors because they have limited options. Many areas have seen youth clubs close in recent years, though this varies significantly by region and some councils have increased funding for youth services. Not every family has space at home for groups of friends, so parks, shopping areas and street corners become the default meeting places. Most of the time, these gatherings cause no problems whatsoever.
That said, some groups do cause genuine issues. Noise, litter, intimidating behaviour, vandalism and verbal abuse can all make life difficult for residents and passers-by. A small number of incidents escalate into something more serious. Knowing how to respond, and when to involve others, helps you stay safe while dealing with the problem sensibly.
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If you encounter a group behaving in a way that makes you uncomfortable, the safest approach is usually to avoid direct confrontation. This is not about being passive or accepting bad behaviour. It is about protecting yourself from situations that could turn unpredictable.
Walking past calmly and without engaging is often the best option. Many groups will not pay attention to you at all. If you receive comments or minor provocation, continuing on your way without responding will usually defuse the situation. Reacting with anger or aggression tends to escalate things quickly.
If you feel threatened or witness a crime in progress, move away and call 999 immediately. This number is for emergencies and situations where a crime is happening. Your safety comes first. Do not attempt to intervene physically or confront the group yourself.
For situations that are unpleasant but not immediately dangerous, such as regular noise late at night or ongoing low-level intimidation, there are better channels for getting help than approaching the group directly.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Reporting anti-social behaviour
When teenage groups cause ongoing problems in your area, reporting the behaviour properly creates a record that can lead to action. A single report may not prompt an immediate response, but patterns of complaints help local services understand the scale of the issue and allocate resources accordingly.
Your local council is usually the first point of contact for anti-social behaviour. Most councils have dedicated teams or officers who deal with these complaints. You can typically report online, by phone or in writing. Include as much detail as possible: dates, times, locations and descriptions of what happened. If you can do so safely, note down approximate ages and any identifying features, but do not put yourself at risk to gather this information.
Contact the police for behaviour that is criminal, threatening or makes you fear for your safety. Call 101 for non-emergency situations that still require police attention, or 999 for emergencies and crimes in progress. Even if police cannot attend straight away, your report contributes to local intelligence and may influence patrol patterns.
Housing associations have powers to act against tenants whose household members, including children, cause anti-social behaviour. If you believe the young people involved live in social housing nearby, contacting the relevant housing provider may be worthwhile.
Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, residents can use the Community Trigger if they feel repeated complaints have not been dealt with properly. This requires local agencies to review your case. The process for activating the Community Trigger varies between councils, so check your local council website for specific details about how it works in your area.
Building longer term solutions
Enforcement action can address immediate problems, but lasting change often requires working alongside young people rather than against them. Local authorities, police and other agencies sometimes run initiatives aimed at redirecting teenagers away from anti-social behaviour, and community involvement can strengthen these efforts.
Schools often play a significant role in addressing teenage behaviour outside school hours. Some areas have established partnerships between schools, police and residents to tackle specific problems. Contacting local schools directly or raising concerns through parent networks can open up useful dialogue.
Neighbourhood policing teams may already be aware of problem groups in your area. Attending local community meetings or contacting your Safer Neighbourhood Team gives you a clearer picture of what action is being taken and allows you to share your own observations. Many areas also use social media and apps to share updates on local policing and community safety, which can help you stay informed and report issues quickly.
Some areas have youth outreach workers who engage directly with young people on the streets. These services vary depending on local funding, but where they exist, they help connect teenagers with activities, support and diversionary programmes. Community events that bring together residents of all ages can also help reduce tensions and build understanding.
Environmental changes sometimes reduce problems too. Better lighting, removal of gathering spots or improved design of public spaces can make an area less attractive for groups looking for somewhere to hang out. Raising these possibilities with your council or local councillor may prompt a review of the physical environment.
If you are affected by ongoing anti-social behaviour from groups of young people, keep a diary of incidents, report through the proper channels and follow up if you feel your concerns are being ignored. Persistence and clear documentation give agencies the evidence they need to act.
For detailed guidance on anti-social behaviour powers and your rights as a resident, visit GOV.UK or contact your local council directly. Citizens Advice can also help you understand your options if you are unsure where to turn.
Tchatchamomonomi, he say, you will never be ome great mens without first learn a trade. He send me to the rubbishes dump for findings wires and cables and with my bare hands I stripped from copper wires the plastics with which to start fire. And when such fires arose in the neighborhood, came the runnings and rushings and scurryings of many rats. Instead of doing as I was told and weighing copper cables into vegetable weighing device, I knitted their fabrics into humane traps.
Rats came in copper humane traps and so for first time in my life I was knowledgeable business man age only threeteen. With lemomaids stall sells plus rat pet shop based on six balded tyres and a old door, I was no longer straydog Borostengon, but valid member of community.
But how my father beat me agains with this time blacksmithed ladle in knees not ankles, when my neighbour Torontonomoni stole copper.
Their behaviour is constantly aggressive, we're not able to open the front windows of the house any more because of the aggressive & shouty nature of their behaviour but also the stench of weed. They have also taken to climbing on neighbours cars and throwing their rubbish into neighbouring gardens. I have spoken to the council about this and they've asked me to gather evidence in the form of a ASB diary, but I also have photos (and videos in some instances) of this going on. The Police have been called 2-3 times and it'll settle down again for a day or two, then return to this ongoing cycle of large gatherings and anti-social behaviour. The ASB officer for social housing also paid the owner a visit and explained that this would not be tolerated, but it hasn't helped at all.
My partner has felt very threatened by these youths and she has also been subjected to insulting gestures and people intentionally blocking her entry into our house. I have confronted the guy who is the centre of all this, but he doesn't respond or react, just turns away, shrugs and walks off - only to return with his mates an hour or so later.
I'm at the end of my tether with it - so much so, I've put my house up for sale because I just don't want to be around this any more. My biggest concern is that these youths will put off potential buyer with their behaviour and anti-social nature, so I'm just stuck. My partner & I both commute to London every day for work and we don't get much sleep any more because of this - we feel trapped in our own home and powerless to deal with these idiots. They're not in education and don't work either - so it's constant, every day, every night. Help!!!!!
Its how they play. If its slander wait until they work in the workplace with you then beat them up and sue the employers for allowing misconduct, and get their adress off the employer if they dont give you it beat employer up as well
Half of these kids sound like they would do nothing unless it becomes a daily activity
What should I do?
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