Civil injunction power for dealing with anti-social behaviour comes into force

The civil injunction can be issued by courts to stop a person who is committing anti-social behaviour, such as public drunkenness or noisy and abusive behaviour towards neighbours, the Home Office said.

It added that positive requirements could be included to help individuals address the root causes of their behaviour. These might include attendance at alcohol awareness classes or taking part in mediation.

Introduction of the civil injunction had been delayed to allow the Home Office to make changes to the legal aid system.

The other powers introduced by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 were: the criminal behaviour order; the community protection notice; the public spaces protection order; the closure power; and the dispersal power.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Anti-social behaviour is a blight on communities and the Coalition Government is determined to clamp down on it. Victims often feel powerless, but through our reforms we have given them a stronger voice.

“The new civil injunction is quick and easy to use and will act as a real deterrent to perpetrators. It will put victims and communities at the heart of the response.”

The Home Office said old powers such as the Anti-Social Behaviour Order, had proven ineffective.