New closure order provisions in ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014 successfully pressed into action

01 Jan 2018

Just a month after the new anti-social behaviour provisions came into force, they have already been pressed into action. West Midlands Police, represented by Jack Parker, today successfully obtained a closure order under s. 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 at Birmingham Magistrates Court (DJ Strongman) in respect of residential premises which had been used as a crack house and been the source of persistent anti-social behaviour to neighbours.

West Midlands Police, working alongside Birmingham City Council, had, over a period of many months, worked hard to bring the anti-social behaviour under control, which included the offer of rehabilitative support to the owners, occupiers and visitors to the premises, none of which had been taken up or resulted in any improvement in behaviour. With the assistance of local residents who attended court in support of the application, West Midlands Police were able to present an overwhelming case and DJ Strongman, noting that the case had been meticulously well-prepared, was satisfied that all three conditions set out in s. 80(5) of the 2014 Act were fulfilled (i.e. that people had engaged in disorderly, offensive and criminal behaviour on the premises, that the use of the premises had resulted in serious nuisance to members of the public and that there had been disorder near those premises associated with the use of the premises) and that the Order was necessary to prevent the behaviour from continuing. The Order was made for the full 3 month period and prohibited access to the property on the part of all persons including the owner and residents.

Jack Parker acted on behalf of the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police. For more information, please contact the Cornerstone Clerks on clerks@cornerstonebarristers.com or on 0207 242 4986