What is a Community Protection Notice (CPN)?

A formal notice, issued under s.43 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, prohibiting or requiring specific conduct. It must be proportionate and necessary, and a Community Protection Warning must normally have been issued first. Breach is a fixed penalty notice offence or summary conviction up to level 4 fine, and the recipient can appeal to a magistrates' court within 21 days.

What is the Community Trigger?

Also known as the ASB Case Review and introduced by s.104 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, it lets victims who have made 3 or more qualifying reports within 6 months activate a multi-agency review if the problem persists. The threshold varies slightly by local area, and reviewers must make recommendations to address the ASB if it is met.

Anti-Social Behaviour Powers

The civil and criminal ASB powers available to officers — Community Protection Warnings and Notices, Public Spaces Protection Orders, closure notices and orders, dispersal powers, the Community Trigger, civil injunctions and Criminal Behaviour Orders — cited to the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).

Reviewed by the BlueLineHub Editorial Team

Last reviewed: 25 August 2026 · Next review due: 25 February 2027

Reviewed by BlueLineHub Editorial

What powers can police use to tackle anti-social behaviour in England & Wales?

The main powers run from informal to formal: a Community Protection Warning (CPW, informal), a Community Protection Notice (CPN, s.43 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014) and a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO, s.59) at the civil end; closure notices (up to 48 hours, Inspector or above) and Magistrates' Court closure orders (up to 3 months, extendable to 6) for premises causing disorder or nuisance; and dispersal powers (ss.34–35) letting an Inspector authorise a zone from which people can be directed to leave for up to 48 hours.

At the court end, a Civil Injunction (s.1) can prohibit or require conduct on the balance of probabilities without a criminal conviction, and a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO, now made under s.331 of the Sentencing Act 2020) can follow any conviction. Persistent victims who have made 3 or more qualifying reports within 6 months can activate the Community Trigger (s.104), which forces a multi-agency review.

All operational references

A reference to the ASB powers available to officers under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and related legislation — from warnings through to court orders. It is educational reference, not tactical guidance — follow your force policy, training and current law.

Warnings, Notices & Orders: CPW, CPN, PSPO

The civil powers available to police and local authorities, from an informal warning through to a formal order.

Power	Status	Description	Issuing authority	Key points
Community Protection Warning (CPW)	Informal	A written warning that a person's behaviour is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those nearby. Issued by police or local council. It is informal — no penalty attaches to the warning itself, but it is required before a CPN can be issued.	Police officer or PCSO, local authority officer	Must specify the conduct in question and what must stop or change; The recipient has an opportunity to change behaviour before escalation; No right of appeal at this stage — it is a warning, not a legal notice; Can be issued to an individual, a business, or a body corporate
Community Protection Notice (CPN)	Notice	A formal notice prohibiting or requiring specific conduct. It must be proportionate and necessary. A CPW must normally have been issued first. Breach of a CPN is a criminal offence.	Police officer or PCSO (Inspector+ authorisation), local authority officer	Issued under s.43 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; Can prohibit specific activities or require positive action (e.g. clear waste); Breach is a fixed penalty notice offence or summary conviction up to level 4 fine; Recipient can appeal to a magistrates' court within 21 days; Forces can seize items associated with the breach on arrest
Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)	Order	A council-issued order restricting specified activities in a defined public area. Common uses include alcohol restriction zones, dog control areas, and restricting congregation in specific locations. Police and council officers enforce them.	Issued by local council; enforced by police, PCSOs, and authorised council officers	Issued under s.59 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; Must have public consultation before being made; Lasts up to 3 years and can be renewed; Breach is a fixed penalty notice offence (up to £100) or summary conviction (up to level 3 fine); Police can confiscate alcohol consumed in breach of a PSPO alcohol restriction

Closure Orders

Closure powers allow police (and courts) to close premises that are causing significant nuisance or disorder. There are two stages:

Police Closure Notice

Duration: Up to 48 hours. Authority: Inspector or above. Issued where premises have been associated with disorder or nuisance within the preceding 3 months, or are likely to be used for disorder/nuisance imminently. The notice prohibits access to specified persons or all persons. Must be followed by a court application within 48 hours.

Magistrates' Court Closure Order

Duration: Up to 3 months (extendable to 6 months). Authority: Magistrates' court on police/council application. Closes premises for up to 3 months. The court must be satisfied the premises have been used in connection with disorder, serious nuisance, or persistent disorder/nuisance. Can be extended to a maximum of 6 months total. Breach is an arrestable offence.

Dispersal Powers (ss.34–35 ASB Act 2014)

Authorised under ss.34–35 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
An Inspector (or above) can authorise a dispersal zone for up to 48 hours
The Inspector must reasonably believe that members of the public have been, or are likely to be, harassed, alarmed, or distressed
The authorisation must specify the geographic area — it cannot cover the whole force area
Constables and PCSOs in the zone can direct individuals to leave and not return for up to 48 hours
Failure to comply with a s.35 direction, without reasonable excuse, is a summary offence under s.39 (up to 3 months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding level 4)
Seizure of items (e.g. alcohol, noise-making equipment) is permitted in certain circumstances
The power cannot be used to disperse people exercising a lawful right to assemble or to protest
Under-18s dispersed after 9pm to a place of safety may be escorted by police to a responsible adult

Community Trigger / ASB Case Review

Introduced by s.104 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 — also known as the ASB Case Review
Victims who have made 3 or more qualifying reports within 6 months can activate the trigger if the problem persists
The threshold varies slightly by local area — some areas allow activation after fewer incidents
The trigger forces a multi-agency review involving police, local authority, and relevant social landlords
Reviewers must make recommendations to address the ASB if the threshold is met
Designed to ensure persistent victims are not ignored and receive a coordinated response
Victims can complain if they believe the review process has not been followed correctly

Court Orders: Civil Injunctions and CBOs

Order	Status	Description	Notes
Civil Injunction	Civil	A court order prohibiting or requiring specified conduct. Can be applied for by police, local authority, or social landlord in the county court (adults) or youth court (under 18s). No criminal conviction required — the civil standard of proof applies (balance of probabilities). Breach is contempt of court — not a criminal offence — but can lead to imprisonment.	Can include positive requirements as well as prohibitions. Can also impose an electronic monitoring condition.
Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO)	Post-conviction	Available following any criminal conviction where the court is satisfied the defendant has engaged in behaviour that caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm, or distress. Replaces the old ASBO on conviction. The prosecution applies for it on behalf of the relevant authority.	Can include positive requirements (e.g. attend a programme). Must last at least 1 year. Breach is a criminal offence — up to 5 years imprisonment on indictment.

Common ASB Types

Noise nuisance

Loud music, parties, barking dogs, machinery noise. Often a council/noise team issue but police can act where public order or distress is caused.

Street harassment

Verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, intimidation of individuals in public. May also engage public order offences or hate crime legislation.

Vandalism / criminal damage

Graffiti, damage to property, vehicle crime. Criminal offence independently — ASB powers may also apply where part of a pattern.

Fly-tipping

Illegal dumping of waste. Environmental crime — council lead but police can assist and CPN can require clearance.

Rowdy / nuisance behaviour

Groups causing fear or intimidation, rough sleeping with associated behaviour, street drinking. Dispersal powers and PSPOs most relevant.

Recording and Evidence: Building an ASB Case

Maintain an ASB log: date, time, location, nature of behaviour, witnesses, any officers present
Victim impact statements are essential — courts and panels take these seriously
Pattern evidence is critical: isolated incidents are harder to act on than repeated conduct
Body-worn video footage should be preserved and downloaded promptly
Neighbourhood policing teams should maintain intelligence logs to support later applications for CPNs, PSPOs, or court orders
Encourage victims to keep their own diary and report every incident — many do not report for fear of worsening things
Multi-agency information sharing is key: housing, council, and police intelligence must be pooled

Frequently asked

What is a Community Protection Notice (CPN)?: A formal notice, issued under s.43 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, prohibiting or requiring specific conduct. It must be proportionate and necessary, and a Community Protection Warning must normally have been issued first. Breach is a fixed penalty notice offence or summary conviction up to level 4 fine, and the recipient can appeal to a magistrates' court within 21 days.
How long does a police closure notice last?: Up to 48 hours, issued by an Inspector or above where premises have been associated with disorder or nuisance within the preceding 3 months, or are likely to be used for disorder/nuisance imminently. It must be followed by a court application within 48 hours, at which a Magistrates' Court closure order can run for up to 3 months, extendable to 6.
What is the Community Trigger?: Also known as the ASB Case Review and introduced by s.104 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, it lets victims who have made 3 or more qualifying reports within 6 months activate a multi-agency review if the problem persists. The threshold varies slightly by local area, and reviewers must make recommendations to address the ASB if it is met.