Scottish Government

ABCs (Acceptable Behaviour Contracts) and ASBOs (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) are both comparatively recent developments designed to put a stop to anti-social behaviour by the individuals on whom they are imposed. But they work in very different ways, and these differences will inform the judgement of professionals on which is the best option in any particular case.

The most obvious difference is that the ASBO is statutory, and carries legal force whilst the ABC is an informal procedure, though not without legal significance. Both types of intervention are aimed at stopping the problem behaviour, rather than punishing the offender. Given the ABC is a voluntary contract; it has greater flexibility, whilst the ASBO, because of its more formal status, offers advantages in terms of enforcement.

Ambient Noise

Totally encompassing sound in a given situation at a given time composed of sound from all sources near and far

Background Noise

The A -weighted sound pressure level of the residual noise at the assessment position that is exceeded for 90% of a given time interval,T, measured using time weighting F.

Benchmarking

There are numerous definitions of benchmarking but essentially benchmarking involves learning by sharing information and adopting best practices to bring about step changes in performance - "improving ourselves by learning from others".

Best Value

Best value means better quality services at reasonable cost and more say for local people.

BPM

Best Practicable Means

CAD Room

Computer Aided Dispatch Room - A dedicated facility found in many police stations which provides intelligence and support to Police Officers on duty.

CIEH

Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

Disability

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines disability as:

A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day to day activities.' However, disabled people's organisations prefer a social approach which defines disability as: 'The loss or limitation of opportunities that prevent people who have impairments from taking part in the life of the community on an equal level with others due to physical and social barriers.'

DAT

A Digital Audio Tape ( DAT) is a tape recording format developed by Sony and Philips in the 1980s. When introduced it offered a number of advantages over traditional reel to reel tape recorders including high definition, a total record time of up to five hours and the ability to date and time stamp events which can be accessed at high speed. However, the latest generation of sound equipment, such as the Annoyance Recording System produced by NORSONICS is able to record audio information directly stored on card based media for playback via a computer which is often more convenient.

Decibel - The decibel is a logarithmic unit for ratios that is used in a number of scientific disciplines.

In all cases the logarithmic measure is used to compare the quantity of interest with a reference value, often the smallest likely value of the quantity. Sometimes that reference can be an approximate or average value.

Most often in common acoustics, the decibel is used to compare the sound pressure level ( SPL) in air with a reference pressure. The reference level for sound intensity (I), sound power level ( PWL) and sound pressure in water are amongst others that are in common use:

DBA

A measure of the overall noise level of sound across the audible frequency range (20Hz - 20,000Hz) with a frequency weighting (e.g. 'A' -weighting) to compensate for the varying sensitivity of the human ear to sound at different frequencies.

Entertainment Management Zone

This is an area including entertainment venues and other elements of the evening economy, designated by boroughs in their Unitary Development Plans, in which planning, licensing, policing, transport and street management issues are managed and co-ordinated.

Emission

This is a measure of sound emitted by a given source.

Environmental Noise

This is defined in the European Environmental Noise Directive (2002/49/EC) as 'unwanted or harmful outdoor sound created by human act

ivities, including noise emitted by means of transport, road traffic, rail traffic, air traffic, and from sites of industrial activity.'

Infrasound

This is sound at frequencies below about 20 Hz (see also Low Frequency Noise).

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control ( IPPC)

a permit system for controlling pollution, including noise, from industrial activities, introduced to comply with European Commission Directive 96/61.

Inter-rater Comparisons

Consistency between interviewers

Low Frequency Noise

This is sound below a frequency of about 100 to 150 Hz, especially in the 40-60 Hz range. Compared with sound of mid and high frequencies, low frequency sound is much less attenuated by passage through air or by passage over acoustically soft ground such as grassland. Low frequencies can thus become more prominent at greater distances.

Music Noise

The noise from the music and vocals during a concert or sound checks, and not affected by other local noise sources, such as traffic.

Music Noise Level ( MNL)

The A-weighted continuous equivalent sound level of the Music Noise measured at a particular location. The 'Code of Practice on Environmental Noise Control at Concerts' Noise Council, 1995 refers.

Neighbourhood Noise (also Neighbour Noise)

Noise from household appliances, radios, televisions, music systems, noisy pets, DIY activities, construction sites, intruder alarms, parties or similar events.

Noise

This was defined in the Wilson report published in 1963 as 'sound which is undesired by the recipient'. Noise includes vibration, except where the context indicates otherwise. Sound is a periodic fluctuation in pressure, typically in air. Noise is classified as a pollutant in the European Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.

Noise Abatement Zone ( NAZ)

The Control of Pollution Act 1974 introduced powers to declare Noise Abatement Zones. These gave Local Authorities power control and, where justified, reduce noise from commercial and industrial premises. Noise Reduction Notices can be served in a NAZ. Although in reality less than 100 zones have been implemented, the powers remain extant.

Noise Nuisance

This has been defined by the World Health Organisation as 'a feeling of displeasure evoked by noise', as distinct from its strict legal definition as being 'noise causing an unlawful interference with a person's use or enjoyment of land, or of some right over, or in connection with it.' [Read v Lyons & Co Ltd [1945] KB.216].

Noise Sensitive Location (Receptor)

Any dwelling, hotel or hostel, health building, educational establishment, place of worship or entertainment, or any other facility or area of high amenity, which may be susceptible to noise.

NOSP

Notice of Seeking Possession ( NOSP) is one of the legal remedies that may be open to landlords (including social landlords) when faced with problems of neighbour nuisance in and around their properties.

NNOs

Noise and Nuisance Officer

NSCA

National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection

ODPM

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Peer Review

An established method of quality assurance for scientific research in which a panel of experts review the subject study and comment via an appropriate academic or professional organisation or in-house.

PEL

Public Entertainment Licence

REHIS

Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland

SIANCE

'Standardised Interview to Assess Domestic Noise Complaints and their Effects' ( SIANCE) Final Report December 2000. ... www.doh.gov.uk/noisepollution/siance.htm

Stakeholder

Put in its simplest terms, anyone with an interest in the subject, be they customer, consumer, provider or enthusiast (prospective influencer) can be considered to be a stakeholder,

Statutory Nuisance

Statutory nuisance is an act or omission, which has been, designated a nuisance by parliamentary statute.

Tinnitus

A hearing disorder often described as 'ringing' in the ears'. The disorder can also take the form of a buzzing or an engine sound in the ears, either continuously, or intermittently. Some sufferers can associate onset with a particular period of high noise exposure or trauma.

Ultra Vires

An action outside the proper authority or purposes of a corporation or corporate officer. (Latin for 'Beyond the Power')

Vibration

Ground borne vibration is typically measured in terms of velocity (millimetres per second) or acceleration (metres per second).

For impulsive or intermittent sources, peak particle velocity or acceleration is measured, this being the maximum value recorded during the event. BS 7385 Part 1:1990 gives advice on measurement of vibration in buildings. Peak particle velocity is the preferred unit for assessing the risk of building damage.

Either velocity or acceleration is used for assessing effects on people. BS 7385 Part 2 1993 gives guidance on acceptable vibration levels to avoid vibration-induced building damage. Vibration can be felt by people at levels much lower than those that could cause structural damage. BS 6472:1992 provides guidance on satisfactory magnitudes of vibration in terms of human response. It defined Vibration Dose Values ( VDV), which are expected to be acceptable, although a wide range of individual sensitivity is found in practice.