March ASB case studies, housing insecurity insights and #ASB12 update
In this week’s edition:
- March ASB case study round up
- #ASB12 A New Dawn – super early bird ticket update
- Housing insecurity and social impact investment
- Cornerstone Barristers: Kuljit Bhogal KC Masterclass this May
- Weekly round up
March ASB case study round up
Throughout March we shared a series of ASB case studies covering a range of environments, from persistent youth ASB and town centre enforcement through to wider use of PSPOs and civil injunctions.
Taken together, these cases highlight something that will feel very familiar in practice.
Enforcement is being used. It is visible. But on its own, it is rarely enough.
Across youth ASB in Leigh, environmental enforcement in London, expanded PSPO use in Stockton and a targeted injunction in Gainsborough, the same pattern comes through. The effectiveness of the response is not defined by the tool itself, but by how it is applied, how it is supported and what happens when it does not achieve the intended outcome.
A few key themes stand out:
- Repeated use of powers without escalation is unlikely to resolve persistent behaviour
- Visibility can reassure communities but does not guarantee long term change
- Structured escalation strengthens consistency and defensibility
- Partnership working creates additional routes for intervention
- Public expectation continues to shape how powers are used
What these cases reinforce is that ASB practice is increasingly about decision making, not just access to tools.
#ASB12 A New Dawn – Early Bird update
We have already seen a strong early response to #ASB12, with tickets continuing to come through with the early bird rate available.
As we have shared over the past few weeks, the focus this year is on what is happening in practice. Not just the legislative changes coming through, but how those changes are shaping expectations, thresholds and decision making on the ground.
With the Crime and Policing Act expected to come into force, many teams are already thinking about how they will apply new and extended powers in real cases. That is exactly where this year’s conversations will sit.
If you are planning to attend, now is a good point to secure your place while the Super Early Bird rate is still available. We will be sharing more of the programme in the coming weeks, with more expert speakers lined up to not just bring value, but to add to your professional toolkit so you leave with knowledge you can apply the very next day in your role.
Housing insecurity and social impact investment
A recent article exploring housing insecurity and the role of social impact investment raises some important questions that will be relevant for those working in ASB and community safety.
While the focus is on funding and delivery at a wider system level, the underlying issue is one practitioners will recognise immediately. Where housing instability exists, the conditions for ASB often follow.
This is not always direct or immediate, but it shapes the environment in which cases emerge and escalate.
What this highlights is the importance of looking beyond the presenting behaviour and understanding the wider context. Stability, access to support and long term housing solutions all play a role in reducing repeat issues, even if they sit outside traditional enforcement approaches.
For those working across housing and community safety, this is a useful piece to read in terms of how broader policy and investment decisions connect back into day to day practice.
Cornerstone Barristers: Kuljit Bhogal KC Masterclass this May
With the expected changes to closure powers continuing to move through Parliament, there is increasing focus on what this will mean in practice.
We wanted to share an upcoming masterclass delivered by Kuljit Bhogal KC of Cornerstone Barristers, which looks at how closure orders are likely to operate as these changes come into force.
The session will cover the latest case law, practical considerations and how these powers are being applied on the ground, with input from policing and local authority professionals.
For those involved in preparing applications or managing cases where closure powers may be used, this is well worth having on your radar ahead of implementation.
Weekly round up
This week has brought a useful opportunity to step back and reflect on the themes coming through in practice. The March case studies have reinforced what many teams are already experiencing. Enforcement remains an important part of the response, but the real challenge sits in how decisions are made, evidenced and adapted when cases do not resolve as expected.
Alongside that, work is continuing behind the scenes to shape #ASB12, with the programme being built directly around these pressures and the realities of day to day casework.
There is a lot more to come over the next few weeks as this develops further.
Have a great week,
Team G&B