Premises closure orders consultation

The Home Office has opened a new consultation on plans to significantly increase the length of premises closure orders, expanding the tools available to police and local authorities to tackle serious nuisance, disorder and criminal behaviour linked to problem properties.

Published on 22 June 2026, the consultation seeks views on proposals enabled by the Crime and Policing Act 2026, which gives the Home Secretary powers to amend the maximum duration of closure orders issued under the Anti‑social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Key proposals

The government is consulting on three specific changes:

• Increasing the maximum duration of a closure order issued by magistrates under section 80 of the 2014 Act.
• Extending the maximum period for which a closure order can be renewed under section 82.
• Raising the maximum overall duration for extended orders.

Closure orders allow police or local authorities to shut premises linked to persistent disorder, serious nuisance or criminality. They are often used for properties associated with drug dealing, anti‑social behaviour, exploitation, or repeated breaches of licensing conditions.

The consultation is open until 11:59pm on 31 July 2026