New powers to tackle anti-social behaviour

New powers announced by the Home Office, referred to as ‘Respect Orders’, are to be rolled out in the Government’s pledge to reduce anti-social behaviour. The new Respect Orders will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public spots such as high streets and local parks. It is being reported these orders will be piloted prior to a national rollout.

Respect Orders may see repeat offenders subject to tough penalties, with such measures to include:

• Breaching a Respect Order will be deemed to be a criminal offence;
• threat of being arrested and put behind bars for breaching a Respect Order;
• Greater police powers, such as the power to seize vehicles, when confronting off-road bikes (including e-scooters) and vehicles used in anti-social behaviour;

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said:

“Too many town centres and neighbourhoods across our country are being plagued by anti-social behaviour, be it street drinking, harassment or vandalism on the high street or noisy and intimidating off-road bikes terrorising our estates.

“Antisocial behaviour chips away at communities’ sense of confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims.

“This cannot be allowed to continue. Respect Orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions. We will also make it easier to seize the vehicles causing misery in too many neighbourhoods, including deafening off-road bikes or e-scooters ridden dangerously on the pavement.

“These new powers alongside thousands more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs will help this government deliver on our mission to take back our streets.”

The new powers will be announced as part of the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, replacing elements of existing Civil Injunction powers for adults, to ensure a wider range of penalties as breaches will be dealt with in the criminal courts, in addition to the new power of arrest, existing legislation will be amended to accommodate these new powers.