New legal roles introduced to strengthen efforts against antisocial behaviour

In a move to enhance local efforts against antisocial behaviour (ASB), Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner has funded two new legal roles. An ASB force legal advisor and paralegal will be based at Exeter Civic Centre and Torquay Police Station to provide crucial legal support to neighbourhood officers and the wider force.

These roles will play an important part in expediting the legal processes related to ASB. Their primary responsibilities will include providing expert legal advice on civil actions such as Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices, civil injunctions and closure orders. By streamlining what can often be a protracted process, ASB interventions will be faster and more effective. 

Machaela O’Brien, the newly appointed ASB Force Legal Advisor, said: “I am looking forward to working alongside both neighbourhood teams in the hope we can make a difference to tackle the prolific individuals with civil remedies and in turn, make the local communities feel safer and feel heard. Alongside this, I will be working with partnership agencies to improve agency working and ensure those vulnerable individuals receive the support they need.” Machaela will be supported by her paralegal, Tania Bage. 

Machaela O’Brien, ASB Force Legal Advisor, with Tania Bage, Paralegal.

The new positions are a direct response to the need for more coordinated legal efforts in handling ASB cases. As ASB often involves individuals with complex needs and histories of trauma, these roles will ensure that appropriate support is in place, helping to achieve positive outcomes for the affected communities. 

Inspector Chris Lithgow, who oversees neighbourhood police teams in Torquay, said: “This is another positive step towards tackling ASB and crime in Torquay. Work already takes place to issue Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and closure orders, but with the additional support from the new legal team, it means our neighbourhood officers can amplify the number of consequences that are issued to offenders – helping us to have a positive difference, quicker.”

Working with partnership agencies is a key aspect of the new roles.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez recognises that a multi-agency approach is key to addressing issues: “The introduction of these legal roles is a vital step in our efforts to tackle ASB. By providing specialist support to the police and our partners, we can speed up processes and take stronger, more effective action. 

“I’m pleased that this new legal support will be part of the Street Focus: Torquay project, which aims to bring about real, long-term change. I’m confident that this approach will make a significant difference, not just in Torquay but as a blueprint for other communities across the peninsula.”

The ASB force legal advisor and paralegal were recently appointed and have already begun their work. Their efforts will complement the ongoing work of the Exeter and Torquay neighbourhood policing teams and other partnership agencies dedicated to enhancing community safety.