• New Respect Orders will place restrictions on those who wreak havoc in communities
  • Police also given tougher powers to seize nuisance vehicles linked to antisocial behaviour
  • Government’s flagship Crime and Policing Act receives Royal Assent 

People who wreak havoc on local communities face tough new restrictions under new laws that have received Royal Assent. The measures bring sweeping powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour. 

Under the Crime and Policing Act, new Respect Orders will let police and councils crack down on persistent adult offenders.  

Officers will, for example, be able to ban them from town centres or stop them drinking in public hotspots like high streets and local parks. Offenders can also be ordered to tackle the root causes of their behaviour – from drug or alcohol treatment to anger management courses – instead of simply being allowed to return to the streets and start the cycle again. 

Breaching a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, with police able to arrest anyone who ignores the rules. Those who flout the orders could face prison sentences of up to two years. Courts will also be able to hand out unlimited fines and tough community punishments – including unpaid work and curfews – to stop the worst offenders before their behaviour escalates. 

The new power will partially replace existing Civil Injunction powers for adults, bringing a wider range of penalties because breaches will be dealt with in the criminal courts. 

Police are also being handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour and, crucially, officers will no longer have to issue a warning before taking nuisance vehicles off the road. 

That means faster action against the scourge of off-road bikes tearing through public parks, dangerous e-scooters on pavements and street racing. It will also help tackle so-called car meets, where hundreds of vehicles can descend on public spaces with ear-splitting revving and unwelcome music. 

Sandra Bauer, Deputy Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch said:   

“At Neighbourhood Watch, our members consistently tell us that antisocial behaviour and harassment are their biggest concerns, so these measures will be positive news. What has been clear for a long time is that antisocial behaviour is a broad term that covers a very wide array of problems, not all of them criminal. It can be really confusing for people to know how and where to report. The government introducing these new powers, and the requirement for local agencies to share ASB data, could make a real difference. It tallies with evidence that shows engaging with communities is important and can also be very effective.” 

Policing and Crime Minister, Sarah Jones, said: 

“Respect Orders will give police the power to ban persistent offenders from our town centres and public spaces, or face being arrested and taken to court.  We are taking back our neighbourhoods for the decent majority who just want to feel safe where they live. Our message is simple – if you make people’s lives a misery, there will be consequences.

Harvinder Saimbhi, CEO of ASBHelp said: 

“As the national charity supporting victims of anti-social behaviour, we welcome the dual approach Respect Orders bring, tackling both the harmful behaviour and the underlying causes, whilst also offering the potential for safer communities and better long-term outcomes for victims. We look forward to working with government on their implementation, at both a local and national level.”  

The new measures form part of the landmark Crime and Policing Act which will give the police and wider criminal justice system vital powers to realise this government’s mission to restore confidence in policing and tackle knife crime. 

The government is also hugely bolstering the presence of police in communities. More than 3,000 additional officers have been brought into neighbourhood roles in under a year, as part of the commitment to have 13,000 in place by 2029. 

Rebecca Bryant, CEO of Resolve said:

“Resolve welcomes the government’s continued focus on tackling anti‑social behaviour and strengthening neighbourhood policing. Our members see every day the impact that persistent ASB, exploitation and serious violence have on victims and communities, and it is vital that frontline practitioners have the tools, powers and support they need to respond effectively.  

“The measures set out in the Crime and Policing Bill represent a significant shift in the national approach. Powers such as Respect Orders, strengthened vehicle‑seizure provisions and new offences relating to exploitation and cuckooing have the potential to improve outcomes for victims when used confidently and proportionately as part of a wider problem‑solving approach.”