Exploring the effects of long-term anti-social behaviour victimisation

AuthorVicky Heap
DOI10.1177/0269758020961979
Published date01 May 2021
Date01 May 2021
Subject MatterArticles
Article
Exploring the effects
of long-term anti-social
behaviour victimisation
Vicky Heap
Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
Abstract
Despite victimological interest in the impacts of different types of criminal victimisation, there is
little empirical work that examines the effects of sub-criminal behaviour on victims. This article
begins to redress the balance by reporting the findings from a qualitative research project
in England that investigated the effects of long-term anti-social behaviour victimisation.
Semi-structured interviews explored victims’ accounts of the long-term anti-social behaviour they
experienced and the resultant effects it had on their lives. The research uncovered that victims
experience a range of mental and physical health effects as well as behavioural changes and has
provided the first in-depth insight into the impact of this type of victimisation. The findings suggest
the cumulative harms associated with anti-social behaviour need to be better acknowledged,
understood and addressed, with greater support made available to victims.
Keywords
ASB, anti-social behaviour, harm, radical victimology, victims
Introduction
In England and Wales, anti-social behaviour (ASB) is legally defined as ‘conduct that has caused,
or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person’ (Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime
and Policing Act 2014, Section 2 (1a)). In reality, this subjective definition translates into a broad
spectrum of behaviours ranging from noisy neighbours to vandalism and fly-tipping. Much ASB is
sub-criminal, which means the behaviours are neither illegal nor subject to criminal proceedings.
However, ASB is sanctionable through a range of tools and powers provided by the Anti-Social
Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014). As a result of the flexible definition, the nature of ASB
Corresponding author:
Dr Vicky Heap, Department of Law and Criminology, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield S10 2BQ,
United Kingdom.
Email: V.Heap@shu.ac.uk
International Review of Victimology
2021, Vol. 27(2) 227–242
ªThe Author(s) 2020
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/0269758020961979
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victimisation is varied. However, it is generally characterised by persistent and/or repeated inci-
dents that increase in severity over time (Heap, 2016a). An example is continuing noise nuisance
that evolves into additional name calling, then harassment and threats. Taken alone, the incidents
may not be considered harmful, but the cumulative nature of ASB victimisation can have a
significant effect on people’s lives. The impact of the victimisation is exacerbated because many
incidents take place in a residential neighbourhood context, where victim and perpetrator regularly
interact (Millie et al., 2005). To date, there is scant empirical evidence about what victims of ASB
feel and experience during and after victimisation in relation to their mental and physical health, as
well as how the victimisation affects behavioural routines.
Our lack of understanding of ASB victims’ experiences is in stark contrast to victims of crime
where a substantial amount of research has been undertaken, as detailed by Shapland and Hall
(2007). Research into the effects of criminal victimisation has chiefly focused on violent crimes.
For example, Coker et al. (2002) found that intimate partner violence victimisation was associated
with an increased risk of poor current heath and developing a chronic disease, depressive symp-
toms, developing chronic mental illness and substance use. Similarly, Parsons and Bergin (2010)
also found that victims of violence suffer persistent emotional and mental health problems. Van
Wijk et al. (2017) examined the effects on surviving relatives of murder and homicide victims and
explained how they experience practical, emotional, psychological and legal difficulties. Property
crimes have also drawn attention, with Mawby and Walklate (1997) detailing how victims of
domestic burglary reported suffering from shock, fear and sleeplessness. These effects were not
confined to the respondents, with children in the household also noted as experiencing the impact
of victimisation, with fear being the most common effect. The majority of studies into the effects of
criminal victimisation utilise quantitative research strategies through the application of large-scale
victimisation surveys that measure the impact of a discrete crime incident, rather than a pattern of
multiple victimisation that ASB reflects. Qualitative research by Korkodeilou (2017), examining
the psycho-social effects of stalking, is most comparable to the types of experiences faced by
victims of ASB because of the chronic nature of both types of victimisation. She found victimisa-
tion effects including the disruption of everyday life, a reduction of social life, economic harms and
interpersonal and emotional harms. The vast array of effects of criminal victimisation demonstrate
that an understanding of sub-criminal victimisation is also required.
This paper reports the first, and to d ate only, resea rch into the effe cts of long-ter m ASB
victimisation. The work presented here uses a qualitative research strategy to explore partici-
pants’ lived experiences of long-term ASB cases to assess the effects of this victimisation on
mental and physical health, and the commission of daily routines. Drawing on an analytical
framework of radical victimology, as conceptualised by Green and Pemberton (2018), the pur-
pose of this paper is to critically assess the effects of ASB victimisation and establish a victi-
mological understanding of this phenomenon. By doing so, the implications for policy reform
will be highlighted with a view to addressing how enforcement and support practices can be
changed to improve ASB victims’ quality of life.
Defining ASB
Experiences of ASB victimisation take place within a different, albeit similar, context to criminal
victimisation. The commission of ASB is not a criminal offence per se. However, legislation such
as the Crime and Disorder Act (1998) and the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act
(2014) in England and Wales have created a range of tools and powers that can criminalise
228 International Review of Victimology 27(2)

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