Funding to help police tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) by imposing closure orders on premises in Exeter, Torquay and South Devon has resulted in significant successes this year.
Since October 2024, Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez has funded two specialist legal roles, including Devon & Cornwall Police’s first dedicated ASB legal advisor, to help the police use all legal powers available to quickly deal with incidents of ASB, drug-related activity and disorder. Tackling ASB is one of the four priorities in the Police and Crime Plan.
Full and partial closure orders, granted by local magistrates’ courts, are a powerful and effective tool because they enable a wide range of premises – including homes, businesses and abandoned properties to be temporarily shut down for three months.
If problems persist, a further three-month extension can be imposed, but in most cases, it has not been required. This is largely due to police working with other agencies such as housing providers to ensure that if the tenant/ owner does return, they do not continue to behave in the same way.
Since the legal advisors were appointed, 54 full and partial closure orders and extensions have been issued across Exeter, Torquay and South Devon. It is a significant increase compared with previous years with only 12 issued in these areas between 2020 and 2024.
Successes have included:
Newton Abbot
In April, a three-month closure order was put in place on a property in Newton Abbot to disrupt ASB and suspected drug taking and dealing at all hours of the day. As well as instances of violence and verbal abuse towards local residents, there were also reports of unsecured dogs running out of the address onto the road, and vehicles linked to the address causing access issues for other residents.
Torquay
The first closure order for a hotel took place in Torquay in October which had stopped taking paying guests several months ago and the building had fallen into a state of disrepair.
The Sherwood Hotel in Belgrave Road had become an “eyesore” and a “magnet” for people intent on causing ASB, as well as an alleged sexual assault. No incidents have been reported to police since.
Other successes in the town include the closure of a house where police found £30,000 of heroin stored there. A three-month closure order was issued in March after reports of drug dealing and ASB.
Exeter
Last month, police and trading standards served a three-month closure order on The Mini Market in Cowick Street. The shop’s proprietor ignored repeated warnings, continuing to sell illegal tobacco worth more than £11,000, seized during five separate raids. Officers reported multiple attempts to flee with illicit goods.
Kingsteignton
In February, three-month closure orders were granted on two properties following reports of suspected drug misuse, ASB, violence and general disorder inside and outside both properties.
One property was served with a partial closure order, allowing only named residents to enter the property. The other address received a full closure order, preventing anyone from entering the property.
Tenants affected by the closure orders were signposted to partner agencies for supportive intervention to ensure future safeguarding and crime prevention.
The closure orders were granted following information collected from the local Police and Communities Together (PACT) Survey. The police worked in collaboration with local partners including Teignbridge Council, Environmental Health, Teign Housing, Social Services, RSPCA and educational services.
Paignton
In June, a business in Paignton was closed to protect people from potential exploitation or coercive practice. The three-month order was granted after police became aware the premises were not being used for legitimate purposes.
Neighbours were affected by the behaviour of those working there, as well as their visitors.
Commissioner Hernandez said: “ASB is a scourge on our society that massively impacts hard-working, law-abiding people trying to go about their lives.
“Any behaviour that causes alarm, distress or has a detrimental impact on community safety will not be tolerated. That has been proven by how many closure orders have been issued in the past 14 months.
“Those causing ASB often have complex needs so an important part of closure orders is that while holding offenders accountable for their actions, police work with partners, such as housing providers, to ensure vulnerable people receive the help they need.
“I would urge people to keep reporting incidents to police as they do listen and will take action.”
Among those who have expressed thanks to their local neighbourhood policing team for restoring peace back into their community is a Torquay resident who said: “Our road of lovely people are all feeling so happy and relaxed after what has been an unpleasant time. So, thank you all for securing our peace.”
An Exeter resident, who has also benefited from the impact of a closure order in their road, said: “Thank you so much for all your support. Such a great outcome and we already feel a weight lifted. I think we will sleep well tonight and have a relaxing Christmas at home.”
ASB legal advisor Machaela O’Brien said: “Prior to the commencement of this ASB role, I did not appreciate quite how impactful ASB can be on the community. Closure orders are a really effective tool because they give residents experiencing ASB respite as well as visibly demonstrating that we will and do take action where possible.
“We have noticed a considerable decrease in reports of ASB at or near premises where a closure order, whether partial or full, has been made. Where breaches have occurred, because of the closure order, officers have better tools to deal with those individuals, and more quickly.
“I cannot emphasis enough how important it is for those being affected to report it. Please do not assume the police are already aware of any ongoing ASB. While closure orders are not always the appropriate course of action, if we don’t know, we can’t help.”
As well as closure orders, community protection orders, community protection notices and civil injunctions can be issued with around 65 imposed since October 2024.
Chief Superintendent Roy Linden, Police Commander for South Devon, said: “The impact of ASB affects people’s wellbeing and their quality of life as well as community cohesion. Responding to it is one of the core priorities for our neighbourhood teams.
“Our neighbourhood policing teams and dedicated lawyer work closely together to prevent ASB through securing and enforcing closure orders. These have proven to be very effective and demonstrate that ASB will not be tolerated or allowed to continue.
“It is only through residents continuing to report incidents to us that we are able to gather the information and evidence required to obtain closure orders on properties and businesses, and work with perpetrators to try to ensure those behaviours are not repeated again.”
If you are experiencing antisocial behaviour in your area, or would like to raise concerns with the police, please report them to the police here. If a crime is taking place or someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.
To report concerns of counterfeit goods, contact Trading Standards via email: tradingstandards@devon.gov.uk or phone 01392 383000.
To report concerns of businesses engaging in illegal activity or to log non-urgent crimes happening in your area, please visit the force website or call 101.
Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org