Adults who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour across England and Wales now face tougher penalties and immediate arrest under new Respect Orders that came into force today, according to a government announcement.
The flagship measure replaces civil injunctions with stronger enforcement tools that allow police to take someone into custody the moment they breach an order. Courts can impose unlimited fines, curfews, community service hours and bans from town centres or public spaces such as high streets and parks, the Home Office said.
Unlike the older Anti-social Behaviour Orders – known as ASBOs – Respect Orders can also compel offenders to address underlying causes of their conduct, including mandatory drug or alcohol treatment and anger management courses. Breaching an order is a criminal offence carrying a maximum sentence of two years in prison.
Who can apply and how the orders work
Police and local councils can apply for a Respect Order, but so can housing associations, landlords and transport authorities, broadening the range of bodies able to seek protection for communities.
To qualify for an order, a person must have engaged in, or threatened, conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. The broad wording means a wide variety of behaviour can be covered, from persistent noise and public drunkenness to threatening conduct in residential areas.
Once imposed, the orders are uploaded to the Police National Computer, enabling officers to check whether someone causing trouble is subject to restrictions and arrest them on the spot if they are in breach.
“Unchecked, anti-social behaviour blights our communities. But it is not inevitable and I won’t accept it,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said in the statement. “For too long, we have lacked the powers we need to deal with this problem properly. From today, that changes.”
Focus on adults and rehabilitation
The government has chosen to limit Respect Orders to those aged 18 and over, saying it does not want to give children criminal records unnecessarily. Under-18s can still be subject to Youth Injunctions, which include both prohibitions and requirements but are handled separately.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Catherine Akehurst, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for anti-social behaviour, welcomed the new tool. “This new tool will enable swift enforcement against prolific offenders, while prioritising rehabilitation and support to break cycles of criminal and anti-social behaviour,” she said.
The orders form part of a wider package of measures unveiled by the government, including tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to nuisance behaviour without issuing a warning, and extending police dispersal powers from 48 to 72 hours. Fines for breaching community protection measures have also risen from £100 to £500.
Ministers have also committed to restoring neighbourhood policing, with 3,800 additional officers and support staff deployed into communities. Every force now has a dedicated lead officer for anti-social behaviour, and police are expected to respond to neighbourhood queries within 72 hours, according to the statement.
What this means for Poles in the UK
If you live in England or Wales and experience persistent anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood – whether from neighbours, groups in public spaces or individuals causing repeated disturbance – the new Respect Orders give local authorities and police stronger powers to act quickly.
You can report anti-social behaviour to your local council or to the police via 101 (or 999 in an emergency). If the person causing the problem is an adult and their conduct causes harassment, alarm or distress, police or the council can now apply for a Respect Order. Housing association tenants can also ask their landlord to apply.
Once an order is in place, police can arrest the offender immediately if they breach the conditions – for example, by entering a banned area or drinking in public where prohibited. This removes the previous gap where civil injunctions often went unenforced.
The changes took effect today and apply across England and Wales. If you are unsure whether a situation qualifies, contact your local council’s anti-social behaviour team or speak to your neighbourhood police officer. Every force now has a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead, and you should receive a response within 72 hours.
