Nearly two-thirds of victims and witnesses of anti-social behaviour did not report it to anyone, according to new YouGov polling published to mark ASB Awareness Week 2026.

The findings suggest a growing gap between people’s experience of ASB and their confidence in the systems designed to respond to it.

The polling found that 63% of victims and witnesses who had experienced anti-social behaviour in the past three years did not report it to the police, their council, housing provider or any other agency. This is up from 56% in 2025.

The research also highlights the impact ASB is having on people’s sense of safety, wellbeing and ability to remain in their homes.

More than a quarter of respondents said ASB had made them feel unsafe in their local area. Fifteen per cent said it had caused them to consider moving home, while 6% said they had actually moved home because of anti-social behaviour.

The findings also point to low awareness of key routes for help. Eighty-four per cent of people said they had never heard of the ASB Case Review, which is designed to give victims of persistent ASB the right to ask agencies to review their response.

Just 6% of respondents recalled seeing information in the past three years about what to do if they were a victim or witness of ASB.

For housing providers, councils and community safety partners, the findings underline the importance of clear reporting routes, visible communication, effective partnership working and consistent support for victims.

The polling suggests that more people may be willing to report ASB if the process felt clearer and safer. Thirty-nine per cent of respondents said they would be more likely to report ASB if they were given clear information on how to do so, while 38% said they would be more likely to report if they could do so anonymously.

Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, Sarah Jones MP, said anti-social behaviour “chips away at pride in our neighbourhoods”.

She said the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee meant every community now had named, contactable officers, alongside dedicated ASB leads in every police force.

She added: “We’re putting 13,000 more officers in neighbourhood roles, and new Respect Orders will give police stronger powers to stop persistent offenders and address the root causes of ASB.”

The polling was commissioned by Resolve, which said the findings show that ASB should not be dismissed as “low-level” or minor nuisance.

Rebecca Bryant OBE, chief executive of Resolve, said ASB can have a “devastating impact” on victims, families and whole communities, leaving people feeling unsafe and, in some cases, forcing them to move home.

She said: “When nearly two-thirds of victims and witnesses are not reporting anti-social behaviour to anyone, we have to ask why the system is not working for the people it is meant to protect.”

She added that too many victims still face confusing reporting routes, poor communication, delays and inconsistent support.

Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE, said the findings highlighted the scale of the problem and its impact on victims.

She said: “Victims must have access to specialist services, clear reporting routes, and agencies that take anti-social behaviour seriously.”

The issue is also a priority for neighbourhood groups. John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive of Neighbourhood Watch, said ASB was consistently one of the highest priorities raised by the organisation’s members.

He said many people remained unsure whether to report concerns to the police, local council or another agency, and that there was a widely held belief that “it’s not worth reporting because nothing will be done”.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Akehurst, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for ASB, said anti-social behaviour was not something policing could tackle alone and required the public and partner agencies to work together.

The research has led to renewed calls for national action to improve outcomes for victims and communities. Proposals include better support for victims, clearer reporting routes, improved information sharing between agencies, greater focus on early intervention and prevention, and stronger local partnership arrangements.

For the housing sector, the message is clear: ASB remains a major neighbourhood management issue, but many residents are still not confident that reporting will lead to meaningful action. Building trust, explaining routes for help, supporting victims and acting early will be central to improving outcomes.