Noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour cases
Unfortunately the University receives a large number of complaints and reports from residents in the local community and from the Police / Council (collectively) about its students throughout each academic year. The University takes each of these complaints / reports very seriously as such behaviour damages the University's reputation and causes immense distress to local residents and other considerate students.
The University shall therefore not tolerate such behaviour and the following protocol will be followed to impose sanctions on those students responsible.
This is in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedure. You should also see the exemplar fines and charges.
Please note however that there may be cause for other sanctions to be applied if the circumstances of the case are deemed to be more serious or other misconduct or other factors have also been taken into consideration when reaching a decision on the case.
Examples of complaints / reports of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour to the University:
- Local resident reports regular very loud music being played at all times of day causing annoyance and disturbing sleeping baby
- Local residents report students using garage roof for barbeque with loud music and excessive amounts of alcohol being consumed – unsafe and causing disturbance to a number of nearby residents
- Local resident reports disturbances every night from various student houses in street – banging doors, playing loud music, getting picked up and dropped off by taxis, shouting, screaming – worn down and can’t take any more
- Local residents report rubbish bags discarded in student garden / yard – bags are split and rubbish is spilling out attracting vermin
- Local resident living below student maisonette is being regularly disturbed by students moving around in property during the night and playing Fifa game – loud shouting and laughing
- Local resident reports a disturbance at midnight when approx 15 people leave the property to get into 4 waiting taxis over 20 min period. Students bang front door when leaving, all talk, laugh and shout and bang taxi doors.
- Local resident disturbed by noise from a rowdy party with about 80 people in attendance at a terraced house. Loud music being played, voices raised, people singing and laughing. Windows and back door open. Party ongoing from 11pm until 4am. Resident called Police who attended property and guests are dispersed. Further noise as guests leave and sing in the street. Empty beer cans thrown into neighbours gardens, vomit on street, neighbour’s car scratched. Police report to University of witnessed noise at 3.50am
- Local resident complained directly to students regarding loud music at 1am. Students were abusive and threatening towards resident who is now too scared to approach them directly and the noise is continuing every night
- Bottles thrown towards residents property by guests of party following a complaint about noise
- Elderly resident neighbours thought people were attempting to break into their bedroom as they slept when guests from next door’s student property climbed across onto the balcony and were banging on the window – caused extreme distress
- Report of students kicking a football around in street hitting it off cars and neighbours windows
- Two students were arguing in street, believed to be boyfriend and girlfriend, at 3am. Female screaming at male and male pushing female. Residents worried and disturbed called Police – students extremely intoxicated are arrested
- Students arrested for stealing neighbours garden furniture – thought it would be funny at the time whilst under the influence of alcohol
- Student arrested for stealing numerous car registration plates
- Local residents called Council / Police as regularly disturbed whilst students smoke in back yard, talking etc in early hours of morning
- Local resident reported that students are regularly banging on doors and shouting to be let in by housemates during the early hours of the morning – have forgotten keys
These examples give an indication of minor through to very serious cases of noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour. The majority of reported noise above could easily have been avoided. This is considered to be inconsiderate behaviour and deemed unacceptable. For example:
- doors can be closed quietly unless there is a problem with the lock / catch (you must inform your landlord immediately of any problems or you will still be held responsible)
- it is your responsibility to ensure that the behaviour of any invited guests to your property is acceptable and therefore you will be held accountable for any noise generated by guests that have disturbed your neighbours
- being loud upon your return home in the early hours of the morning is inconsiderate as is playing televisions and stereos / mp3 players / laptops loudly when you know others are sleeping
- you should ensure that you have a key for your house and if you accidently lose this, you should text your housemates or stay at a friend’s house – do not bang on doors and shout to be let in
- you should try to hold celebrations away from your home (in the city centre or at the Students’ Union for example) as a large number of parties result in complaints and reports to the University
- you should always dispose of rubbish correctly and put your bins and recycling box out on the correct day remembering to bring them back in when empty
- do not invite friends to leave in taxis from your home and when you are using taxis please remember to be respectful to others when getting in / out, maintain quiet whilst in the street and ask the taxi company to ring / text when they are outside - not toot the horn
- drink alcohol in moderation, know your limit, being drunk is not a form of defence for your behaviour even if you claim it is ‘out of character’.
Repeat offenders will receive more severe sanctions to reflect an escalation of misconduct and any student who has been abusive, aggressive, threatening, intimidating, etc towards a member of the public can expect to be referred to a Student Disciplinary Committee for the full sanctions of the University to be considered including expulsion.
Sanctions:
First complaint / report about a student / student household of a noise disturbance and / or anti-social behaviour:
Witnessed Noise by Night Noise Team Officers / Police:
If the noise has been witnessed by the Night Noise Team (Council) Officers or Police and a report confirming this has been received by the University, the whole student household (Newcastle University students only) will be automatically issued with a Formal Written Warning and Disciplinary Fine of £30 each. The students will be advised that if they were not at the property at the time of the disturbance, they can submit evidence of this to be considered by Student Progress Service for consideration.
Other Reported noise disturbances and / or anti-social behaviour:
If the noise has not been witnessed by the Night Noise Team Officers (Council) or Police, Student Progress Service will consider the details of the matter reported and shall determine whether the student household (Newcastle University students only) will be issued with a Formal Caution. The students will be advised in the Formal Caution e-mail that if they were not at the property at the time of the disturbance, they can submit a statement and evidence of this to be considered by Student Progress Service within 7 days of the date of the e-mail.
Second complaint / report about a student / student household of a noise disturbance:
Upon receipt of any second complaint / report, the student household shall be called to a disciplinary meeting with Student Progress Service to investigate the matter further. This action will include reports of call-outs to student houses by the Night Noise Team / Police twice or more on the same night / during the early hours of the next morning following multiple complaints.
The sanctions will vary depending on the details of the case but it is likely that a Final Written Warning and large Disciplinary Fine – up to £200 per person will be imposed. If the case is deemed very serious, it is likely that the matter will be referred to a Student Disciplinary Committee who have the full sanctions available to them.
Third complaint / report about a student / student household of a noise disturbance:
Upon receipt of a third complaint / report, the student household shall be called to a disciplinary meeting with Student Progress Service to investigate the matter further before being referred to a Student Disciplinary Committee who have the full sanctions available to them.
First Case - Witnessed by Council / Police |
First Case – not Witnessed by Council / Police |
Second Case |
Third Case |
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Sanctions |
Formal Written Warning and £30 Fine per student |
Formal Caution |
Final Written Warning and up to £200 Fine per student or referral to Student Disciplinary Committee |
Referral to Student Disciplinary Committee |
Action by the Council and Police (Collectively):
The Council and Police have their own procedures for addressing noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour by students. Further information on this is available on the following pages:
Additional Information
