Crime & Policing Bill ping pong, Southport insight and new Level 2 courses

In this week’s edition:

Crime & Policing Bill update
Southport Inquiry – new insight from Janine
The Housing Ombudsman launch their 26/27 business plan
Level 2 ASB Case Management Principles – June dates now open & new Ireland programme
Weekly round up

Crime & Policing Bill – Latest “Ping Pong” Update

The Crime & Policing Bill has been moving between the House of Commons and House of Lords over recent weeks, with both Houses considering amendments before agreeing the final position.

The House of Lords have now accepted the Commons position, meaning agreement has been reached between both Houses on closure powers.

The Lords had proposed extending closure notices up to 7 days and closure orders up to 12 months. The Commons did not accept this as drafted.

Instead, the agreed position is:

Closure notices will extend from 48 to 72 hours
Closure orders remain at 3 months, with a further 3 month extension

However, the key shift is here:

The Secretary of State now has the power to introduce extended durations following consultation
Both Houses have made it clear this is a question of when, not if
It is likely any extended powers will apply to commercial premises rather than residential

What this means:

No immediate change to how closure powers are used in housing-related ASB
If you are dealing with commercial crime or ASB, watch for the consultation and be ready to respond
The direction remains towards stronger powers, with increased focus on proportionality and evidence

We will keep you updated as the Bill progresses and as further detail emerges following consultation.

The Southport Inquiry – New Insight from Janine

In a new thought leadership article, partner Janine has shared her reflections on the Southport inquiry, focusing on what it means for ASB case management in practice.

The themes will feel familiar, but the inquiry reinforces the impact when risk is not fully recognised, cases are minimised too early, and information is not effectively shared.

It also highlights the importance of professional curiosity, clear case recording and keeping the victim voice front and centre.

You can read Janine’s full insight here:

Housing Ombudsman – 2026–27 Business Plan

The Housing Ombudsman has published its consultation on its 2026–27 business plan, setting out what it intends to do amid rising complaint volumes.

The plan outlines the next phase of its approach, moving into a “stabilise” stage of caseload reduction, with a focus on resolving cases more quickly and preventing cases from becoming older.

Alongside this, new performance targets have been set around timeliness, and landlord fees will increase to £9.64 per home.

For many services, this will reflect what is already being experienced day to day, balancing increasing demand with the pressure to keep cases progressing and bring them to a resolution more quickly.

You can read the full update here.

Level 2 ASB Case Management Principles – Ireland Programme | June Enrolment Now Open

Enrolment is now open for our Level 2 Accredited ASB Case Management Principles qualification, and we are excited to launch our new Ireland programme!

In response to feedback from frontline practitioners we have developed a dedicated Ireland-specific version, designed to reflect local legislation, policy context and day-to-day practice.

This programme has been developed in partnership with Tuath Housing Association, whose input has been invaluable in shaping a course that genuinely reflects the needs of practitioners working in the Irish context.

Built around real casework, the qualification focuses on the decisions practitioners are making every day and how those decisions stand up to scrutiny.

It is particularly relevant if you are:

Supporting new officers who need a structured, practical foundation
Looking to build consistency across your team
Reviewing how confident your service is in managing risk, evidence and case progression

The focus is on:

Early risk and vulnerability assessment
Evidence gathering and investigation
Proportionate decision-making
Managing cases through to resolution

If you are looking to build confidence and consistency across your ASB service this year, this is a practical place to start.

You can view full details, upcoming dates and book your place here:

Weekly round up

It has been a busy week behind the scenes! We are currently finalising the programme for ASB12, with more announcements coming soon.

Alongside that, we are preparing for further developments on the Crime & Policing Bill as it progresses, particularly around consultation and what this will mean in practice.

As always, we are also continuing to support clients across a range of ASB and community safety challenges, working through the detail of casework, policy and service delivery.

If your organisation would benefit from some additional support around ASB or community safety, whether that is casework, policy, training or service delivery, feel free to get in touch.

Have a great week,

Team G&B ASB Associates