Missed our latest webinar? Watch the replay and your weekly update…
In this weeks edition:
- The Prescription Cannabis Webinar Replay
- An update on the Crime & Policing Bill
- Top Tip For Stress Awareness Month
- Unconscious Bias Training – 3 Reasons You Should Sign Up
- Janine & Darren’s Weekly Round Up
Managing Prescription Cannabis Use – Key Takeaways From Our Latest Webinar
With nearly 700 practitioners signed up, last week’s webinar highlighted just how complex and challenging it can be to manage ASB cases involving prescribed cannabis use in residential settings.
Our fantastic panel shared insights from across housing, policing, legal, and policy perspectives, offering practical advice for practitioners navigating these cases.
Some key takeaways:
- Mike Morgan-Giles (Cannabis Industry Council) clarified that it is never lawful to smoke cannabis, even with a prescription – prescribed use would always be for vaping or another legal form of administration.
- Jo Grimshaw (Surrey Police) reminded us of the broad range of tools available to practitioners – from informal conversations through to legal enforcement – with proportionality always key.
- Lindsay Felstead (Clarke Willmott) explained how and when the Equality Act applies, and the importance of ensuring casework reflects a full understanding of individual circumstances.
- Clare Paterson (CP Data Protection) addressed common questions around personal information, including confirming it is lawful to ask for evidence of a prescription to support appropriate decision-making.
- Charlie Hamilton-Kay (ASB Help) encouraged attendees to consider the harm experienced by those reporting concerns, and offered practical suggestions for managing expectations and communication.
There was fantastic engagement throughout – and we know from your comments that a follow-up session would be welcome. We’ll keep you posted.
Couldn’t make it or want to share with a colleague?
The session recording is now available to watch, and we also recommend reviewing the Cannabis Industry Council’s latest guidance document, which explores key policy and legal considerations in more detail.
Download the Guidance and Watch The Recording Now:
And finally, a huge thank you to our event sponsor CMSG, whose support allowed us to offer this session completely free of charge.
The Crime & Policing Bill Update
This week, the 4th Committee meeting on the Crime and Policing Bill took place, resulting in decisions on a number of proposed amendments.
Several key amendments were rejected, including:
- Lowering the minimum age for a Respect Order from 18 to 16
- Introducing fines for individuals who receive more than one Respect Order
- Expanding the definition of ASB (for the purposes of Respect Orders) to include “nuisance or annoyance”
- Allowing those with a Respect Order to be deprioritised on housing waiting lists
- Increasing penalties for repeated breaches of a Respect Order (such as custodial sentences of up to five years)
One notable amendment was agreed:
- An addition to the absolute ground for possession to include Respect Orders
A number of administrative amendments also remain in place. These primarily ensure legal consistency—such as clarifying that references to injunctions include youth and housing injunctions, and aligning the ASB definition across enforcement tools like dispersal powers.
We’ll continue to share updates as the Bill progresses and assess what these developments may mean in practice.
Top Tip For Stress Awareness Month
Are you managing time stress well enough?
This week’s helpful insight comes from associate Jack Madge who continues our series for Stress Awareness Month – focussing on managing time stress in ASB roles:
“Time stress, a common experience in fast-paced environments, arises from pressure to complete tasks within limited timeframes, leading to anxiety or potential burnout if not managed effectively. Especially true for those of us working in housing, community safety, police, or a similar field.”
Jack shares two practical ways to tackle this:
1. Build your resilience through building your resources:
Creating a support network, connecting with professionals, and knowing where to look for help can make all the difference. The Resources Page on the Green & Burton ASB Associates page is one example – packed with case studies, policy guidance, webinars, and more to support you when you need it most. Check it out here.
2. Learn to say no (and delegate when you can):
It’s easy to feel guilty about turning down tasks, but protecting your time and energy is essential. Taking on too much can leave you ineffective, overwhelmed, and exhausted. ASB practitioners need to be empathetic, assertive, analytical – all of which are harder when stretched too thin.
Prioritise your time so you can continue delivering the brilliant support your communities rely on.
3 Reasons Why You Should Sign Up To The Unconscious Bias Training
Unconscious bias can show up in subtle but powerful ways, especially in ASB casework where quick judgments, assumptions, and perception can influence decisions. Here’s why our upcoming training this May is worth your and your team’s time:
- It’s tailored for ASB professionals
This isn’t a generic session – it’s specifically designed for those working in housing, community safety, and enforcement roles, with casework-focused examples that feel familiar and relevant. - It’s practical and solution-focused
Expect real-world examples, not just theory. You’ll leave with tools you can apply straight away to make your decision-making fairer and more consistent. - It supports confident, accountable casework
Trainer Katy Anderson will guide you through techniques to recognise and challenge bias, helping you feel more equipped to handle complex cases with clarity and confidence.
Course Details:
Date: 14 May 2025
Time: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Live online via Teams
Trainer: Katy Anderson
Cost: £99 + VAT
Ready to reflect, refresh and build your skills?
Janine & Darren’s Weekly Round Up
With lighter evenings arriving and diaries filling fast, it’s been a reflective but focused week here at Green & Burton ASB Associates.
The conversations sparked by our webinar on prescription cannabis use continue to highlight the value of bringing multiple voices together – and the need for clear, balanced guidance in this evolving area of casework. If you’ve not yet had a chance to catch up, the replay is well worth a watch, especially for teams looking to navigate the overlap of ASB, health, and legal considerations with more confidence.
The Crime and Policing Bill also remains firmly on our radar. While several proposed amendments were rejected this week, the inclusion of Respect Orders within the absolute ground for possession is a development we’ll be keeping a close eye on. As always, we’re thinking ahead about what this could mean in practice and how teams might need to adapt their processes.
And with Stress Awareness Month in full swing, this week’s Top Tip is a timely one. Jack’s advice around managing time stress and knowing where to draw support really resonated. It’s a good reminder that even small adjustments such as having clearer boundaries, making use of valuable resources and proper prioritisation can help us stay grounded in the middle of heavy caseloads.
If there’s anything you’re grappling with this week, or something you’d like us to cover in future content or sessions, drop us a line. We always appreciate hearing what matters to you.
Until next time,
Janine & Darren