The text on the BBC report (I've not watched the video) isn't quite right, in so far as an ASBO being served - I'll explain.
The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 recently came into force (October 2014), which provides new regulatory powers to local authorities and the police.
One of the new powers is that local authorities and the police can serve a Community Protection Notice (CPN), the purpose of which is 'to stop a person aged 16 or over, business or organisation committing anti-social behaviour which spoils the community’s quality of life'.
There are a number of tests etc. which have to be applied before a CPN can be served - I'll not go into this here, but the statutory guidance for those who want to read is available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/352562/ASB_Guidance_v8_July2014_final__2_.pdf
The upshot of this is that the Home Office has foreseen the application of a CPN to enforce treatment of Japanese Knotweed (or other invasive non-native plants). To this effect, they have produced a briefing document (link below) outlining when the new powers could be used.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364846/Japanese_Knotweed_information_note.pdf
As ever, the application of these notices would need to be considered on a case by case basis, but issues to be considered no doubt would be things like the size of the stand, distance from neighbouring properties, liklihood of causing damage etc.
|