Possession of laughing gas with the intent of getting high has been made illegal in the UK, with repeat offenders facing up to two years in jail. Dealers who peddle nitrous oxide – nicknamed “hippy crack” – could face up to 14 years behind bars.

The Joint Committee on Justice heard from a number of stakeholders as part of its investigation into issues around anti-social behaviour

Brains of seriously antisocial teenage boys are built differently from those whose behaviour is normal, scientists have discovered.

One in five local authority tenants are living with high levels of antisocial behaviour on their estate and two thirds of them say the level has stayed the same or worsened in the past two years.