Antisocial Behaviour Top of the Town Survey

As part of the council’s offer of support to businesses located in the Top of the Town, our community safety patrol officers proactively engage with local businesses to better understand any concerns they may have relating to antisocial behaviour.

To capture these concerns, we devised a survey for the businesses to complete.

Community Safety Patrol Officers visited 90 businesses in the Top of the Town, between Monday 19 May and Saturday 31 May 2025 to complete a survey with them about their experiences of antisocial behaviour. The visits were well-received and businesses told us that they felt reassured.

The information collated from the responses will be used to help the council and other community safety partners to better understand businesses’ concerns relating to antisocial behaviour in the Top of the Town.

Next Findings - Top concerns of businesses

Findings - Top concerns of businesses

Out of the 90 businesses visited, 11 reported no issues with antisocial behaviour.

The 79 businesses that did report issues were asked to provide their top concerns.

Type of antisocial behaviour	Number of businesses reporting concerns
Person or group drinking alcohol	47
Person or group being aggressive	46
Begging	40
Person or group involved in antisocial behaviour	34
Illegal drug taking or dealing	16
Criminal damage (including graffiti)	10
Illegal drugs or paraphernalia found	5
Discarded bedding	4
Littering	4
Busking (loud or persistent)	3
Fly-tipping	1

Previous About the survey Next Findings - How often, when and what time antisocial behaviour occurs

Findings - How often, when and what time antisocial behaviour occurs

Businesses were asked how often they experienced antisocial behaviour.

How often antisocial behaviour occurs	Percentage reported
Every day	22.8%
Most days	29.1%
Once or twice a week	20.3%
Once every two months	11.4%
Once a month	16.5%

Businesses were asked when and what time most antisocial behaviour occurs.

When antisocial behaviour occurs	Percentage reported
Weekdays	12.8%
Weekends	16.7%
Both	70.5%

Time of day antisocial behaviour occurs	Percentage reported
Mornings	10.1%
Afternoon	65.8%
Evening	24.1%

Previous Findings - Top concerns of businesses Next Conducting the surveys

Conducting the surveys

While conducting the surveys the Community Safety Patrol Officers:

Supported 88% of the businesses that they visited to complete the survey.
Gave out 51 Advice for Businesses in Top of the Town leaflets to help business report issues to the correct agency.
Engaged with 31 businesses to listen to their concerns about specific issues and to give advice, including the powers available under the alcohol-related public spaces protection order.
Witnessed and dealt with two incidents of littering in the town centre.

Previous Findings - How often, when and what time antisocial behaviour occurs Next Next steps

Next steps

What we will do:

We will continue to enforce the Public Space Protection Order for drinking alcohol in a public place
Together with the police, we will continue to provide a visible presence in the Top of the Town
We will continue to take a robust approach to antisocial behaviour
We will visit and engage with businesses
We will continue the partnership response in relation to street attached antisocial behaviour

How you can help us:

Report antisocial behaviour to the relevant authority

Previous Conducting the surveys

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Top of the Town Businesses Antisocial Behaviour Survey

Contents

Findings - Top concerns of businesses

Findings - How often, when and what time antisocial behaviour occurs

Conducting the surveys

Next steps

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