The three-month order aims to offer “respite” to residents and comes in response to a number of recent concerning incidents

The Metropolitan Police has obtained a three-month court order granting officers greater powers to tackle antisocial behaviour in Edmonton Green.

The ‘closure order’ has been obtained under Section 80 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 and means that police officers can now restrict behaviour such as loitering in particular areas.

It encompasses Edmonton Green Shopping Centre and the surrounding residential blocks and comes in response to a number of incidents that have heightened concerns around crime locally in recent months.

Asked to explain how the closure order will be enforced, a Met Police spokesperson said: “The application is for a partial closure against eight premises, including the shopping centre, following consultations with local businesses and residents.

“It’s for a partial closure meaning that restrictions would be put in place to attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour. The aim is to prevent people from congregating and causing concern.

“No business is being closed, no-one is being stopped who is attending the location to shop, however, anyone who is loitering in stairwells, service yards, car parks, or causing anti-social behaviour can now be dealt with more robustly.”

As well as the shopping centre, the order covers the housing blocks Methven Court, Brickland Court, Golden Lion Court, Geary Court, Pennine House, Grampian House and Mendip House.

The court order states that police officers will “aim to prohibit all persons who do not have a legal or reasonable excuse in doing so from accessing these premises”.

The exceptions are business owners, residents, visitors, staff, maintenance workers, emergency services and delivery people.

The order adds that the prohibition is “necessary to prevent the ASB [antisocial behaviour] from continuing and is urgently required to offer respite to local residents”.

It will be in force for three months, ending on Wednesday, 3rd December.

Update (4th September):

Enfield Council leader and Edmonton Green councillor Ergin Erbil said: “I’m very pleased that police now have stronger powers to stop antisocial behaviour in Edmonton Green and the nearby homes. Creating a safer Enfield is my top priority.

“These new powers will give residents and local businesses some much-needed relief. Antisocial behaviour causes misery, and this is an important step to making our community safer.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.