Youth Antisocial Behaviour

The Bath City Centre Team have been attending an increased number of calls in relation to youth antisocial behaviour.

With the warm weather and the end of the school year it is only natural that there are more young people in town but unfortunately some of these individuals and groups have become involved in antisocial behaviour and low level criminality – shoplifting, minor assaults and public order incidents, and trespassing in derelict or staff only areas of buildings.

We are working with our ASB Team, our colleagues on the Bath Outers Team, and local schools to identify offenders and deal with them at the appropriate level.

We would ask parents to make sure they know where their children are, who they are with, and to speak to them about these issues – help us set a good standard of behaviour so all members of the public can enjoy their time in the city centre.

Actions

• 1 November 2026
  

  October Update:

  Incidents of youth antisocial behaviour in and around Bath City Centre have continued over the course of October, despite extensive engagement and intervention from ourselves and statutory partners, particularly between the 22nd and 25th where 22 reports were made in relation to youth crime and ASB in the city centre.

  Because of these issues, a s35 Dispersal Order was preauthorised for the subsequent weekend. While that weekend was busy for our response colleagues dealing with adults celebrating Halloween a little too enthusiastically, we did not see any issues with youths in town.

  As we noted on social media at the time of the dispersal:

  “We urge parents to be mindful of where their children are and what they are doing especially when out in the late afternoon and evening, and consider the level of supervision they should provide. Parents should discuss the impact that chronic group antisocial behaviour can have on the community with their kids, and what the consequences of being involved in this can be. We have identified many key offenders and are utilizing a multiagency approach to deal with them. While this is a stepped approach that focuses on giving offenders plenty of chances to change, at the top end of the consequences scale it allows us to work with statutory bodies to place the worst offenders in emergency care placements outside of BANES such is the level of concern for their safety and the safety of others. Ultimately two children have already been dealt with in this manner.”

• 13 September 2026
  

  August/Early September Update:

  Issues of antisocial behaviour being caused in the City Centre by an identified group of youths have remained over the second half of the school holiday period. The group is largely made up of males between the ages of 12 and 16, with a smaller number of females aged 15 to 17.

  Issues largely relate to petty shop theft, trespass into restricted areas of businesses like hotels and cinemas, and use of abusive language towards members of the public. However, now also includes one recent incident of an assault that took place in the Southgate area of the city.

  Three young males have been issued with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts, and a Community Resolution has been issued to a young male in relation to an incident of public urination.

  On two occasions in this period we have utilised s35 dispersal powers to remove youths from the city centre.

  We were also successful in applying for an Antisocial Behaviour Injunction from the courts in relation to a 16 year old male who was frequently coming to notice for breaking into restricted areas of buildings, or into derelict buildings, as well as for making hoax phone calls to police and local security services.

  Criminal investigations are ongoing into several matters involving a number of children. As always we will consult with BANES Youth Justice Team to consider what outcomes are most appropriate for each individual child and our Early Intervention Team continues to engage with families of involved children to try and divert them away from offending.

  We urge parents to keep themselves informed of where their children are and who they are with when they are not at home. Be willing to have frank conversations about the impact their behaviour has on individuals, businesses and communities. The consequences they may face for this behaviour can be significant – breaching an ASB Injunction could lead to a detention order, and any criminal record can seriously impact future travel and employment opportunities.

  With the good summer weather ending, school terms resuming, and free bus travel for kids finishing there will be less opportunity for this behaviour to carry on, however we will continue monitoring this issue closely.

• 27 July 2026
  

  July Update: 

  Over the course of the last month we have made good progress identifying a key cohort of regular offenders. This group of young males has been responsible for a number of incidents, especially when they are in town together.

  • Two Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) have been served to two boys with another ABC awaiting service.
  • An ASB Injunction is being considered for another.

  We have also engaged with our Early Interventions Team to begin providing better support and guidance.

  These ASB interventions are separate to any ongoing investigations for criminal offences where we are having conversations with the BANES Youth Justice Team about what outcomes are most appropriate for these youths

  Separately, a young female was also given a Community Resolution for an incident of public order at Bath Bus Station.