Whether it will revisit the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and, in particular, whether it is effective in dealing with anti-…

The Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 provides a wide range of measures for dealing with anti-social neighbours. Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) can be used to prevent persons from engaging in antisocial behaviours which cause alarm or distress to their neighbours, including antisocial noise nuisance. Breaching an ASBO is a criminal offence which can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to five years.

The Scottish Government is currently convening a working group with local authorities to look at the existing guidance to the antisocial behaviour legislation and revise it where necessary. This will include taking newer legislation, such as the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 giving social landlords additional powers to deal with antisocial behaviour in social housing, into account. These new powers include taking previous antisocial behaviour into account in the allocation of social housing to new applicants, extending the use of the short Scottish secure tenancy for antisocial tenants in social housing and introducing a streamlined eviction process for those social tenants who cause harm to their immediate community.