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A project that critically assesses the processes through which Community Protection Notices are constructed, evidenced and monitored to regulate anti-social behaviour

Community Protection Notices (CPNs) were created and introduced through the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act (2014). They are used to prevent and/or require specific behaviour by an individual or organisation, where existing conduct has a ‘detrimental impact on the quality of life of those in the locality’. So far, CPNs have tackled a vast array of perceived anti-social behaviours in England and Wales, extending from rough sleeping to overgrown gardens. A wide range of criminal justice actors can issue CPNs, and they require a low/no standard of evidence to do so. Breach of the notice results in a fine and possible criminal conviction. Little is known about how these extremely flexible, discretionary powers are being used and there is no government scrutiny. This timely and much needed research will be the first to investigate how Community Protection Notices are constructed, evidenced and monitored by the authorising bodies.

This research will address the gap in understanding by investigating the use of CPNs. It will provide the first empirical evidence on how this new power is being used in practice and will examine how CPNs are being used in different localities. It will also provide the first indication of practitioners’ perceived efficacy of CPNs as a tool for tackling ASB in local communities. This work is particularly timely, given the recent return of ASB to the policy agenda, evidenced by the publication of ‘Anti-Social Behaviour: Living a Nightmare’ (2019). The research will generate important findings regarding which behaviours trigger a CPN, the evidentiary requirements of administration, and the monitoring and enforcement practices undertaken by authorised bodies. These findings will have clear impact on policy and practice, particularly in response to the Victims’ Commissioner’s report, which highlighted concerns around professional oversight, monitoring and consistency of approaches.