The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 is part of a major initiative to combat anti-social behaviour. The bill introduces a number of measures to tackle a range of 'undesirable', behaviour including: strengthening of existing sanctions of ASBOs and fixed penalites notices and supervision orders; new powers to deal with premises that are used for drug dealing; extended powers for tackling anti-social behaviour in social housing including demoted tenancies and exclusion orders; mechanisms for involving parents of those involved in anti-social behaviour, including new powers for schools and LEAs in respect of truancy and exclusion; and new powers for the police to designate areas where they can disperse groups causing intimidation. A new regime for controlling high hedges which adversely affect the reasonable enjoyment of domestic property to be administered by Local Authorities, with financial and criminal sanctions for non-compliance. The Act employs both civil and criminal measures, and makes many changes to current legislation in such areas as housing, nuisance, youths and parental responsibility, public order controls, drug misuse and firearms. This Special Bulletin will guide the reader through the many changes and discuss what they mean in practice. All professionals and advisers dealing with social housing, education, crime and youth offending will need a detailed understanding of that Act and its likely impact.