Chief constable to build costs of ASB lawyers into force budget after successful pilot

ASB lawyers were funded during the pilot by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner.

In a letter earlier this month (page 49 onwards) to the area’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Alison Hernandez, outlining his budget requirement for the next four years, Chief Constable James Vaughan said he had agreed to mainstream the capability.

He said: “The ASB lawyers have been working across Exeter and Torquay and have had many significant results since being embedded in the neighbourhood teams in 2024.

“These include obtaining 54 closure orders to temporarily shut down premises which are linked to serious, persistent anti-social behaviour, including one notable period in September 2025 when nine closure orders were obtained in the period of a week.

“In the period prior to their arrival from 2020-2024 only twelve orders were obtained, which demonstrates the value they bring.”

Elsewhere, the Chief Constable’s letter warns of “unavoidable savings and necessary investments”, adding that it was “deeply disappointing” that the government has only provided a partial and limited funding settlement, consisting of a high-level total government grant figure”.