A Bumper Edition Of ASB – A Week of Insight & Updates
In This Weeks Edition:
- ASB In The News
- Upcoming June Courses
- Victims & Courts Bill Update
- The Latest Insights From Recent Cases & Leading Experts
- New Research On County Lines
- This Weeks Top Tip
- Janine & Darren’s Weekly Round Up
ASB In The News
Your weekly round-up of cases making the headlines… Spot a case you’ve worked on? Why not submit the story to be part of our case study series?
- Lancashire – PCSOs assaulted amid rise in anti-social behaviour in Lancashire estate
Read Here - Somerset – Task force to tackle Chard’s anti-social behaviour
Read Here - Merseyside – Crime prevention orders extended in Liverpool City Centre
Read Here - Merseyside – Partial closure orders for Wirral flats after anti-social behaviour
Read Here - Hampshire – Partial closure orders granted for two New Milton properties following drug and ASB reports
Read Here - West Midlands – 20 arrests to combat anti-social behaviour and organised crime in Walsall
Read Here - Kent – Man arrested for 145mph pursuit during crackdown on nuisance drivers in west Kent
Read Here - Whitehaven – 2 year CBO for man found guilty of ASB
Read Here
Upcoming June Live Training Courses
If you or your team are looking to strengthen skills, or align with the latest casework best practice, we have two essential online training opportunities this June. Here are the programmes available (do feel free to get in touch if there is a training you don’t see and need for your organisation to help shape our future training calendar).
Effectively Managing Neighbour Disputes
Date: Thursday 20 June 2025 (Morning)
Format: Live Online | Cost: £99 + VAT
Trainer: Katy Anderson
This course helps practitioners better identify and manage neighbour disputes that fall outside the ASB threshold – a key challenge that can drain resources and increase dissatisfaction if mishandled.
Course topics include:
Differentiating between ASB and neighbour disputes
Safe triage and assessment
Managing persistent complainants
Practical tools for response and resolution
Ideal for housing officers, community safety teams, and local authority leads. Pairs perfectly with the course below to form a full day of learning.
Effectively Managing Non-ASB Noise Reports
Date: Thursday 20 June 2025 (Afternoon)
Format: Live Online | Cost: £99 + VAT
Trainer: Katy Anderson
Not all noise complaints amount to ASB. This course supports officers to assess and manage non-ASB noise effectively, ensuring appropriate action while avoiding escalation or unnecessary casework.
Key learning includes:
- Accurately identifying non-ASB noise reports
- Tools for assessment and triage
- Problem-solving approaches
- Communicating expectations and outcomes clearly
- How a Good Neighbourhood Management Policy can help
This session complements the morning course on neighbour disputes. Join both for a full day of targeted learning.
The Introduction Of The Victims and Courts Bill
On 7th May 2025, the Victims and Courts Bill was introduced to Parliament, setting out a number of reforms designed to strengthen the rights of victims and improve cross-agency accountability.
Of particular importance for those working in anti-social behaviour (ASB) casework is Clause 7, which introduces a new statutory duty for local authorities and social housing providers to cooperate with the Victims’ Commissioner.
This marks a significant shift in expectations, particularly for organisations managing persistent ASB in neighbourhoods. While police have long been required to cooperate under the Victims’ Code, this extension ensures that social landlords and councils are also held accountable for how they support and respond to victims of ASB.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
- More redress for victims and witnesses – A formal mechanism to raise concerns via the Commissioner.
- Commissioner can request action from agencies, including councils and housing providers.
- Agencies must comply if the request is deemed appropriate and reasonable.
- Commissioner must publicly report annually on progress and compliance.
This change could provide much-needed recognition for victims of ASB, who deserve the same standards of care and support as those affected by crime.
Download the full explanatory notes here
Here at Green & Burton ASB Associates we are supporting teams to understand these changes. If you’re unsure how this new duty may impact your organisation or your ASB case management practices, get in touch to arrange a discussion.
The Latest Case Studies & Insights From The Sector
Staying up to date with legal decisions and the latest insights from experts can be really beneficial for strengthening your casework and understanding how the courts are interpreting ASB-related issues. Below we have a selection of recent case summaries and practical insights into policy that may help inform your approach, support your decision-making, and build confidence in applying the right legal tools. Click through to read the full judgments and analysis.
Giles Peaker via Nearly Legal: Housing Law News and Comment – Starter Tenancies, Section 21 & ASB: A Recent Case to Know
A new County Court decision (Yorkshire Housing v Scott) offers important learning for ASB professionals dealing with starter tenancies and Equality Act defences. Despite arguments around disability discrimination and a technical challenge to the tenancy’s extension, the court upheld the use of Section 21 and found the landlord had acted proportionately.
This case highlights the value of clear documentation, robust tenancy terms, and properly assessing the impact of ASB.
Alexandra Loxton from Clarke Willmott – Understanding the Power of Mandatory Possession Orders
This article explores the critical differences between discretionary and mandatory grounds for possession, with a particular focus on Ground 8 and Ground 7A (ASB). It explains why mandatory grounds are so powerful, requiring courts to grant outright possession orders if the ground is met, without needing to assess reasonableness. ASB professionals will benefit from understanding how and when these grounds apply, the limited scope for defence or delay once granted, and the importance of preparing robust, proportionate cases – especially where vulnerable tenants are involved.
Read the full article for practical insight into how mandatory orders operate at court and warrant stage.
Chris Wilkinson from Weightmans LLP – High Court Ruling: Closure Orders Can Have a Deferred Start Date
In a rare judgment, the High Court has confirmed that a Closure Order under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 does not have to take immediate effect. In Chief Constable of Humberside Police v Kelly Morgan, the court ruled that while magistrates cannot suspend a Closure Order under section 63 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act, they may, in certain circumstances, defer the start date – such as protecting the Article 8 rights of occupiers.
This has important implications for ASB professionals and legal teams when applying for or responding to Closure Orders. It clarifies that delayed implementation may be considered in exceptional situations, but not simply to accommodate pending appeals.
Read the full case study for practical insight.
Jane Talbot & Emma Kelly from St Ives Chambers – The Future Of Managing and Preventing ASB
This new article explores the potential implications of the Crime and Policing Bill 2025, particularly around Respect Orders, enhanced responsibilities for risk assessments, and the proposed extension of Closure Order powers to housing providers. It considers what these changes could mean for day-to-day casework, enforcement decisions, and partnership responses.
This is really useful context for practitioners preparing for future developments in ASB legislation.
Read the full article here.
New Research On County Lines - Tackling Exploitation in Drug Supply: A Call for National Consistency
New research led by the Universities of York, Leeds and Liverpool explores how children and vulnerable adults are being drawn into both local and cross-border drug markets – often under coercion or manipulation. While some forces are shifting their approach to recognise and respond to this exploitation, the study finds a lack of consistent national policing strategy, leaving victims subject to a “postcode lottery” of safeguarding support.
The report argues for clearer national guidelines, more central oversight, and a shift away from the now-outdated term ‘County Lines’. Instead, it calls for a greater focus on tackling criminal exploitation in all its forms – wherever it occurs.
If you work in community safety, policing, youth justice or safeguarding, this research provides a valuable perspective on how services can respond more fairly and effectively.
Read the full report here.
This Weeks Top Tip - Put Victim Risk at the Heart of Case Management
Following on from yesterdays article and the focus on Mental Health Awareness Week, this week’s tip, brought to you from associate Katy Anderson is a reminder that victim risk assessments aren’t just a process – they’re a safeguard.
“We often associate anti-social behaviour with visible disruption – noise, damage, intimidation. But what’s less immediately visible is the emotional and mental toll it takes on those affected.
Taking the time to fully understand the emotional impact of ASB can help ensure:
- Victims are listened to, believed, and supported
- Proportionate action is taken based on individual harm, not assumptions
- Services remain responsive, fair, and trauma-informed
Risk isn’t static – a situation may look manageable on paper, but for the person experiencing it, the harm could be growing day by day. Regular reassessment matters.
Let’s use Mental Health Awareness Week to re-centre the victim in every ASB response – because how someone feels is just as important as what happened.”
Janine & Darren’s Round Up
As we head into another bank holiday weekend, it’s been another busy and thought-provoking week across the ASB sector – from the introduction of the Victims and Courts Bill to insightful case law developments and important new research around criminal exploitation being published.
We know that many of you are planning your training calendars for the year ahead now the financial year is well underway. This week we have launched our new training brochure, designed for organisations looking to commission in-house sessions. It includes our most requested topics – in a handy downloadable guide that you can access via our website or through clicking here (link to brochure).
Whether you’re catching up on recent legal decisions, setting CPD goals, or simply stepping back for a well-earned break at the end of this week, we hope you enjoy the bank holiday… See you next week as we prepare for the official launch of the ASB11 Conference!
Have a great week,
Janine & Darren