Closure powers extended, SOC inquiry open and key lessons from recent ASB case law
In this week’s edition:
- Closure powers amendment: what it means for practice
- ASB case studies: February round up
- Serious and organised crime inquiry
- ASB possession and Equality Act compliance
- Weekly round up
Closure powers amendment: what it means for practice
An important amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill was agreed yesterday in the House of Lords, tabled by Baroness Buscombe.
The change focuses on closure powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and represents a significant shift in how these powers may be used in practice.
The amendment proposes that closure notices may remain in force for up to 7 days rather than 48 hours, that closure orders may last up to 12 months rather than an initial 3 months, and that courts may extend those orders for a further 12 months with no maximum overall duration.
Under the current framework, closure orders typically run for 3 months initially and may be extended to a maximum of 6 months. If enacted, this amendment would significantly expand both the duration and the potential impact of closure powers available to practitioners.
The amendment passed with 215 votes in favour and 180 against.
For housing providers, community safety teams and policing partners, this is not a minor technical change. It has the potential to materially alter how closure powers are used as part of the wider ASB toolkit, particularly in cases involving serious and persistent harm.
Longer durations may allow for more sustained disruption, but they also place greater emphasis on proportionality, evidence and how decisions are justified over time. As ever, how these powers are applied in practice will matter just as much as the powers themselves. You can read the full parliamentary debate here.
This is exactly the type of shift we will be exploring in more detail at our October conference, #ASB12 A New Dawn. With the expected commencement of the Crime and Policing Bill, many teams are already thinking about how these expanded powers will be used in practice, how thresholds may change and what this means for day to day case management.
The conference is designed to create space for those conversations, grounded in real practice rather than theory, and to explore how services can respond confidently as the legislative landscape evolves.
Super early bird tickets are now available, and if you are already planning training or CPD for the year ahead, this is the moment to secure your place.
ASB case studies: February round up
Throughout February we shared a number of ASB case studies from across the country, each highlighting different environments in which anti-social behaviour can emerge and escalate.
From vehicle related ASB in Sheffield to youth disorder, town centre partnership work and behaviour management in football stadiums, the settings may differ but the underlying challenges remain familiar.
This case highlights several important points for housing and ASB practitioners.
Clear boundaries still need to be established quickly when behaviour shifts from being lawful or tolerated into activity that causes harm. Early intervention continues to be critical in preventing escalation, particularly in environments where risk can increase rapidly. The importance of coordinated partnership working comes through strongly across all cases, as does the role of visible and proportionate responses in maintaining community confidence.
At the same time, these cases reinforce that enforcement alone is rarely enough. The most effective responses are those that balance enforcement with safeguarding and prevention, taking account of the wider context in which behaviour is occurring.
Across all of these examples, what stands out is that strong outcomes are rarely the result of a single intervention. They are built through a combination of judgement, timing and partnership working applied in a way that reflects the specific circumstances of each case.
Serious and organised crime inquiry
The Home Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry into the impact of serious and organised crime on local neighbourhoods.
Serious and organised crime spans a wide range of activity, including exploitation, trafficking, fraud, cybercrime and organised immigration crime, and is estimated to cost the UK at least £47 billion each year. Its impact is not confined to large-scale operations. It is often felt most directly at neighbourhood level, shaping how safe residents feel and influencing confidence in local services.
Alongside this, the Government’s policing reform White Paper sets out proposals for a more coordinated national approach, including the introduction of a National Police Service and new regional structures.
For those working in housing, ASB and community safety, this inquiry is particularly relevant because it is examining how neighbourhood policing connects with wider responses to serious and organised crime, and whether current and proposed structures are equipped to respond effectively.
The committee is currently inviting evidence until Friday 20 March 2026.
ASB possession and Equality Act compliance
A recent article published by Weightmans, reviewing the case The Co-operative Development Society Ltd v XXX, provides a clear reminder of the level of scrutiny now being applied to ASB possession proceedings.
The case involved a tenant with significant mental health conditions, and the court ultimately dismissed the possession claim while awarding £8,800 for injury to feelings alongside damages for disrepair.
This case highlights several important points for housing and ASB practitioners.
The quality of evidence remains central. Assertions without detail or supporting material are unlikely to withstand scrutiny. Proportionality assessments must be genuine and balanced, rather than reactive documents produced to support a predetermined position. Where protected characteristics are present, there is a clear expectation that these are properly understood and factored into decision making from the outset.
What this case reinforces is that ASB possession claims rarely sit in isolation. Where vulnerability and equality considerations are engaged, courts will look closely at how decisions have been reached, not just the behaviour itself.
Weekly round up
This week’s developments reflect a direction of travel that will be familiar to many practitioners.
On one hand, the proposed changes to closure powers point towards stronger and more sustained interventions in response to serious and persistent anti-social behaviour. On the other, the recent possession case reinforces that the use of those powers will continue to be subject to close scrutiny, particularly where equality and proportionality are concerned.
Alongside this, the inquiry into serious and organised crime highlights the growing overlap between neighbourhood level issues and wider criminal activity, and the importance of coordinated responses across agencies.
Taken together, this is not simply about having more tools available. It is about how those tools are applied, how decisions are evidenced and how confidently practitioners can justify their approach when it is challenged. As expectations continue to sharpen, professional judgement, clear reasoning and defensible decision making remain central to effective ASB practice.
Things are busy here at G&B HQ as we make plans for the future, including bringing the programme for #ASB12 to life. Watch this space for more news on this and get your tickets booked – we have already had a great response to the Super Early Bird Rate!
Have a great week,
Team G&B