Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
Last amended by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 in 2022. Inserted s.122A providing anonymity for victims of forced marriage and raised the maximum penalty for the forced marriage offence.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Summary
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 overhauled the law on anti-social behaviour in England & Wales, streamlining a patchwork of earlier orders into a smaller set of faster, more flexible powers. It replaced the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) with two new tools — the civil injunction (Part 1) and the Criminal Behaviour Order (Part 2) — and introduced community protection notices, public spaces protection orders, and closure powers (Part 4). It also created the 'community trigger' (the ASB case review), gave social landlords a new absolute ground for possession, and made forced marriage a criminal offence.
Key Points
- Civil injunction (Part 1, ss.1-21) replaced the ASBO for civil cases — granted on the balance of probabilities where conduct is capable of causing nuisance or annoyance (housing) or harassment, alarm or distress
- Criminal Behaviour Order (Part 2, ss.22-33) replaced the post-conviction ASBO, available on conviction for any offence
- Community protection notices and public spaces protection orders (Part 4, ss.43-75) tackle persistent environmental ASB and regulate behaviour in defined public areas
- Closure powers (Part 4, ss.76-93) allow premises associated with nuisance or disorder to be closed quickly
- ASB case review / 'community trigger' (Part 6, s.104) lets victims require agencies to review their response to repeated complaints
- Forced marriage made a criminal offence (s.121), with anonymity for victims (s.122A)
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2022 — Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
Inserted s.122A providing anonymity for victims of forced marriage and raised the maximum penalty for the forced marriage offence.
Frequently asked questions
- What replaced the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) under the 2014 Act?
- The Act replaced the Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) with two new tools. For civil cases, it introduced the civil injunction, which is granted on the balance of probabilities. For criminal cases, it introduced the Criminal Behaviour Order, which can be made against an offender upon conviction for any offence. These tools are designed to be faster and more flexible than the previous system.
- Who can be subject to a civil injunction for anti-social behaviour?
- A civil injunction can be granted against a person aged 10 or over who has engaged in, or threatens to engage in, anti-social behaviour. The court must be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the conduct causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress. In housing-related cases, the conduct may also involve nuisance or annoyance.
- When can a court issue a Criminal Behaviour Order?
- A Criminal Behaviour Order can be made by a court against an offender upon conviction for any offence. It is available where the offender has engaged in behaviour causing harassment, alarm, or distress, and the court determines that the order will help prevent such behaviour in the future. Breaching the order without reasonable excuse is a criminal offence.
- What is the 'community trigger' in the context of anti-social behaviour?
- The 'community trigger' allows victims to require relevant agencies to review their response to repeated complaints about anti-social behaviour. This mechanism, known as the ASB case review, is designed to ensure that agencies are effectively addressing persistent issues that affect the quality of life in the locality.