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8 December 2008
The first premises closure order to be served in England and Wales has brought respite to a community in east London just one week after it was introduced.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith saw this take effect today on a visit to Tower Hamlets.
Working in partnership
Tower Hamlets Council’s (new window) anti-social behaviour operations team, working in partnership with the Bow safer neighbourhoods team and partnership unit, sought to impose the order following a series of complaints about anti-social behaviour from a flat on Old Ford Road in Bow. Neighbours told the Old Ford Housing Association about frequent visitors to the flat who, at night, were swearing, shouting, playing loud music and generally detracting from the quality of life in the area.
Neighbours believed Class A drugs were being used in the flat.
Despite repeated warnings and a police raid, which uncovered drugs paraphernalia but no drugs, neighbours continued to complain about the flat. The local authority then successfully sought a premises closure order to prevent people from visiting and staying in the flat and so stop the anti-social behaviour.
Statement from the Home Secretary
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, ‘I congratulate Tower Hamlets for using the new premises closure order power to take swift action to evict people causing significant and persistent disruption to the local community.
'Perceptions of anti-social behaviour have fallen in recent years but we never let our guard down. I want the public to know we’re right behind them and taking action. Anti-social behaviour has no place in our daily lives. The public should not have to put up with it and perpetrators should not think they can get away with it.
'Premises closures make it clear that anyone who thinks they can flout the law and get away with it is just plain wrong.'
Premises closure order in action
The premises closure order was served on the flat’s occupants on Monday, December 1 – the very day the order came into being – and was confirmed at a hearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 3.
The flat has now been closed for three months while eviction proceedings are pursued.
The new premises closure orders extend crack house closure powers, which have been used successfully to close over 1,000 crack houses bringing relief to hundreds of local communities since they were introduced in 2004, to other premises associated with persistent nuisance.
They can be sought by police and local authorities to tackle any premises - such as a house, bar, factory, garage or shop – that has been the source of persistent disorder. The closure order lasts for up to three months, and can be extended if approved by a magistrates’ court.
Anyone who breaches the terms of the order by returning to the building could face up to six months in prison and a £5,000 fine.
Statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
Meredydd Hughes, ACPO lead on uniformed operations and chief constable of South Yorkshire, said, 'ACPO welcome the introduction of this new power, which will see the police service better equipped to deal with the problems of anti social behaviour within the community with effective legislation.
'The new powers will extend the legislation that is currently available to the police service in dealing with such problems in partnership with other agencies.
'People who engage in such behaviour need to know that there are sanctions that can be used by the police to the benefit of those affected in the locality.'
Statement from Tower Hamlets
Heather Mallinder, community safety operations manager in Tower Hamlets, said, 'This new legislation is a last resort, which means that the perpetrators have had plenty of warnings that their behaviour will not be tolerated but have refused to listen.
'Maybe now anti-social neighbours will take note and change their behaviour before it comes to this.'
To tackle anti-social behaviour, Tower Hamlets Council is receiving almost £200,000 over three years for family intervention projects, which involves intensive support to help get families back on track. The area is also set to receive £700,000 through the youth crime action plan, with its emphasis on early intervention, over the next three years.
Notes to editors
- Premises closure orders were created by the criminal justice and immigration bill (new window) which received royal assent on 9 May 2008. This civil court order was implemented on Monday, 1 December.
- The Home Office has sent guidance on using premises closure orders (new window) to anti-social behaviour order coordinators across England and Wales; it can be found on the Home Office's Respect website (new window).
- The premises closure order power has already been used successfully in Scotland since 2004; 26 premises, including a massage parlour, have been closed.
