Open consultation

Increasing the duration of closure orders under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Published 22 June 2026

Introduction

The Crime and Policing Act 2026 gives the Secretary of State new powers to amend the duration of closure orders in the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 (‘the 2014 Act’), subject to consultation. The government is therefore seeking views on increasing:

• the maximum duration of closure orders issued under section 80 of the 2014 Act; and
• the maximum period for which a given closure order can be extended under section 82, and the maximum overall duration of such an extended order

The government welcomes responses in particular from all individuals and / or bodies who make use of these powers to tackle both high street illegality or antisocial behaviour as they presently stand and from those individuals and / or bodies who might be affected by the use of these powers.

Closure orders, issued by the magistrates’ court, are sought by the police and local authorities to respond quickly where premises are associated with serious nuisance, disorder or criminal behaviour, enabling them to protect victims and local communities from ongoing harm by prohibiting access and use of the premises. Currently a business or premises can be closed for up to three months initially, a period which can then be extended by the court for a further three months (i.e. to a maximum total not exceeding six months).

The Home Office is aware, through engagement with stakeholders and Parliamentary debates during the Crime and Policing Act’s passage through Parliament, of a widespread view by local responders, that when used to address high street illegality, the current maximum closure period is too short. The Home Office is committed to enhancing efforts to reduce high street illegality, protecting local communities from such harm, and preventing legitimate businesses from being undercut.

Increasing the maximum duration of closure orders might also reduce the burden on local authorities, the police and magistrates’ courts by reducing the need for extensions. The requirement to apply to the magistrates’ court for a closure order would remain unchanged, meaning judicial oversight of longer-term restrictions would continue. Different regulations can be made to provide for different maximum durations depending on the nature of the property concerned, for example residential premises and businesses.

It is important to note that any such regulations brought in would increase the maximum possible duration of a closure, and of extensions to orders. The decision as to the length of a specific order granted on particular facts will be decided by the relevant court on a case-by-case basis, depending on, among other things, what is considered proportionate.

Through this consultation, the government is seeking views on the potential benefits, impacts and implications of increasing the overall duration of a closure order to up to 12 months and whether any additional considerations, restrictions or safeguards should be taken into account.

Background

Closure powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 comprise two stages - the closure notice and the closure order. The closure notice is issued out of court and for a maximum of 48 hours (to increase to 72 hours when relevant sections of the Crime and Policing Act comes into force) and prohibits access to particular people at particular times. When a closure notice is issued, the police or local authority must then apply to the magistrates’ court for a closure order (section 80(1)) unless the closure notice has been cancelled under section 78. The magistrates’ court must hear the application for the closure order within 48 hours of the closure notice being served.

The court can make a closure order for a maximum period of three months (section 80(6)) if it is satisfied that: a person has engaged in disorder, antisocial or criminal behaviour on the premises (or that such behaviour is likely if the order is not made) and that the order is necessary to prevent the continuation or occurrence or reoccurrence of such disorder or behaviour (section 80(5)). Unlike the closure notice, a closure order can prohibit access to anyone, including the landlord, owner or habitual residents (section 80(7)). The closure order can be extended by an additional three months under section 82.

Proposed amendment

The government is considering making regulations under the new section 83A of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, due to be commenced on 29 June, to amend the maximum duration of a closure order from six months to 12 (inclusive of any extension). It is proposed that an initial closure order could last for 12 months with the ability to extend the notice being available in cases where the initial closure order specified a period shorter than 12 months.

The government believes this approach delivers two benefits:

Firstly, by extending the overall period for which an order can be in place the police and other local responders will have more time to effectively investigate harmful activities and take appropriate action against the perpetrators. This will make it harder for those conducting such activities to re-establish themselves in the same premises or elsewhere.

Secondly, by allowing for an initial closure order to last for 12 months the proposal would reduce the administrative burden on both the police and other local responders as well as the courts.

As these orders would continue to be made by the court, on application of the local responder, they would only be granted for the full 12 months if the court was satisfied that this was necessary to prevent the harmful behaviours.

This consultation seeks views on whether these amendments would represent a proportionate and effective change and to help the government form a view on a number of specific issues relating to the scope of the amendment powers.

Questions

1. Do you agree or disagree in principle with the proposal to increase the maximum duration of a closure order to 12 months? Please explain your answer.

2. Do you agree that the maximum duration of an initial closure order should be for a period of 12 months? If so, please explain your answer. If not, please specify a proposed duration and your reasoning for this.

3. Do you agree or disagree in principle with the proposal to also increase the maximum period for which an initial closure order can be extended to 12 months (where the initial closure order was for a shorter period)?

4. Are there potential risks, adverse impacts or unintended consequences that should be considered if the maximum overall duration of closure orders were to be extended to 12 months? If yes, please provide detail.

5. Are there particular groups, businesses, communities or individuals who might be adversely affected by an amendment to this effect? Please provide details.

6. Do you think extending the maximum overall duration of a closure order to 12 months should be limited to tackling criminal behaviour alone, and exclude nuisance behaviour and disorder?

7. The powers enable different provision to be made for different kinds of businesses. Do you think that would be helpful? For example, do you think any extension should only be in relation to high street businesses and exclude private residential properties? Are there any limitations which should be applied?

8. Are there additional considerations, or issues with the use of closure orders, that the government should be taking into account?

9. Are there specific safeguards that should be factored into any increase in the closure orders?

How to respond

This Home Office consultation will run until the 11.59pm on 31 July 2026.

Responses can be submitted via email to: highstreetorganisedcrimeunit15@homeoffice.gov.uk