Looking for anti-social behaviour

‘Anti-social behaviour’ (ASB) has become a high-profile concern in political and policy debate in the UK.For instance,according toTony Blair (2003) it is ‘for many the number one item of concern right on their doorstep’. In this article evidence is presented that ASB is not a major concern for most people. Rather, concerns are concentrated in certain deprived and/or urban areas and in town and city centres.Within these areas it is also possible to overidentify or misidentify – albeit challenging – behaviour asASB.What this means for understandings of ASB, and policies to deal with it, is considered.