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Anti-Social Behaviour Practice Questions

Free NPPF Step 2 Anti-Social Behaviour questions with full answers, for Sergeant and Inspector candidates.

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About this topic

Anti-social behaviour questions test the powers in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: civil injunctions, community protection notices, dispersal powers and closure powers.

Know who can apply for or issue each order, which court deals with it, and the consequences of breach.

Key legislation and cases

  • Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014

Worked examples

Try each question before opening the answer. Every option is explained, because the exam usually turns on why the near-miss answers are wrong.

Worked question 1 of 2Standard

Residents have complained persistently about a neighbour who plays loud music at all hours. The local authority has issued a written warning and the behaviour has continued. Which of the following correctly describes what may happen next?

  1. AThe local authority must now apply to the magistrates court for an injunction - the written warning exhausts the out-of-court options available
  2. BThe police may apply to the magistrates court for a civil injunction under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 requiring the neighbour to stop the behaviour
  3. CThe local authority may issue a noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 - the 2014 Act does not apply to noise nuisance between neighbours
  4. DFollowing the written warning an authorised person may issue a community protection notice requiring the behaviour to stop - breach of the notice is a criminal offence
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 a community protection notice may be issued by an authorised person - including a police officer or local authority officer - where a person is acting unreasonably and the conduct is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, is persistent or continuing, and is unreasonable. A written warning must first be given. Breach of a CPN is a criminal offence. A court is not required to issue the notice.

s.43 Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014
s.43(1): an authorised person may issue a community protection notice to an individual if satisfied that the conduct is having a detrimental effect of a persistent or continuing nature on the quality of life of those in the locality and that the conduct is unreasonable.
  • A: A court injunction is not the next step after a written warning. The CPN is specifically designed as an out-of-court enforcement tool that sits between the written warning and court proceedings. The written warning does not exhaust the out-of-court options.
  • B: The civil injunction under the 2014 Act is a court-based remedy applied for through the county court or High Court. It is not applied for by police and is not the next step following a written warning.
  • C: A noise abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 may be available in parallel but the 2014 Act is not excluded from noise nuisance cases. Both regimes can apply and the CPN route is equally available.
Worked question 2 of 2Standard

DC Hunt investigates persistent anti-social behaviour by Harvey, aged 16. The police consider applying for a civil injunction under s.1 ASBCPA 2014. DC Hunt asks which court has jurisdiction. Which of the following most accurately states the legal position?

  1. AThe application must be made to the county court - s.1 ASBCPA 2014 confers jurisdiction on the county court for all applications regardless of the respondent's age.
  2. BThe application must be made to the youth court - s.1 ASBCPA 2014 provides that applications in respect of persons under 18 must be made to the youth court.
  3. CThe application must be made to the magistrates' court - s.1 ASBCPA 2014 requires all applications to be made to the magistrates' court with the adult and youth panels sitting as appropriate.
  4. DThe application must be made to the youth court - s.1 ASBCPA 2014 provides that applications in respect of persons under 18 must be made to the youth court, but a district judge in the county court may hear the application where the youth court is unavailable.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B

Section 1 ASBCPA 2014 provides that where the respondent is under 18, the application must be made to the youth court. For respondents aged 18 or over the application is made to the High Court or county court. Harvey is 16 - the youth court has jurisdiction.

s.1 Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
s.1(2) ASBCPA 2014: The court that may grant an injunction under this section is the High Court or the county court if the respondent is aged 18 or over, and the youth court if the respondent is under 18.
  • A: The county court has no jurisdiction over under-18 respondents.
  • C: There is no requirement for all applications to go through the magistrates' court.
  • D: There is no fallback to a district judge in the county court - the youth court has exclusive jurisdiction for under-18 respondents.

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