Channel 5 cameras follow Brent's anti-social behaviour crackdown

From noisy neighbours to fly-tipping, Brent’s frontline officers are heading to national TV as cameras go behind the scenes of the borough’s fight against anti-social behaviour.

Channel 5’s ‘At War with Nextdoor’ programme features Brent Council officers investigating complaints and tackling problems affecting neighbourhoods.

Brent officers appear in four episodes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the council investigates complaints and responds to neighbourhood issues.

Brent’s noise control and anti-social behaviour teams will be shown dealing with a range of cases, from persistent loud music and noisy pets to disturbances linked to late-night venues.

Cllr Liz Dixon, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, said: “This series offers a glimpse of the work our teams do day in, day out to tackle the problems that affect residents’ everyday lives. Much of that work goes on behind the scenes, so it’s good to see it recognised. Residents can see what happens when they raise complaints with us, from investigating reports to taking action.

“If you experience anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping or nuisance, please report it to us so we can look into it. Our message is simple: Don’t Mess with Brent! We all have a part to play in keeping our neighbourhoods clean and peaceful.”

Research by Churchill Home Insurance found around 450,000 noise complaints were made to UK councils in 2021/22, roughly one every 70 seconds, highlighting the scale of the issue nationwide.

In law, a statutory nuisance includes noise, smoke, dust, smell or artificial light that significantly interferes with the use or enjoyment of a home. To meet this threshold, the impact must go beyond everyday annoyance and be considered unreasonable to the average person.

In Brent, most noise complaints are reported online or via the Noise App, with investigations typically triggered after repeated incidents within a short period.

In April 2025, Willesden Magistrates' Court fined a Brent resident more than £8,000 following repeated reports of loud music from neighbours.

Residents can report noise nuisance by downloading the Noise App: www.thenoiseapp.com