New powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour announced by Home Secretary

Respect Orders are being introduced that 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, where they have caused misery to local people.

These will be piloted prior to national rollout to make sure they are as effective as possible.

Police will also be given stronger powers to immediately seize vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour with officers no longer required to issue a warning.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper said this will allow police to deal more swiftly with the “scourge” of “deafening” off-road bikes in public parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements, street racing and cruising.

It will also assist the police in tackling car meets, which can see hundreds of cars gather in public spaces that often include loud aggressive engine revving and intimidating music.

Perpetrators can also be required to address the root cause of their behaviour by being mandated to undertake “positive rehabilitation”, such as attending drug or alcohol treatment services, or an anger management course to address the underlying causes of their behaviour.

Failure to comply with Respect Orders will be a criminal offence. Police will have the ability to immediately arrest anybody who is breaching their Respect Order.

Ms 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.

“Anti-social 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 police community support officers will help this government deliver on our mission to take back our streets.”

As well as prison sentences of up to two years, criminal courts will also be able to issue unlimited fines and community orders, such as unpaid work, and curfews as punishment for breaching a Respect Order.

This will ensure that the most serious offenders are dealt with before their behaviour can escalate and cause further harm, says the Home Office.

The new powers will be introduced as part of the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, partially replacing existing Civil Injunction powers for adults, to ensure a wider range of penalties as breaches will be dealt with in the criminal courts, alongside the new power of arrest.

Existing legislation will be amended to allow the police to seize nuisance off-road bikes – and other vehicles which are used in an anti-social manner – without having to first give a warning to the offender.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for anti-social behaviour, said: “I welcome the introduction of Respect Orders and stronger powers to seize vehicles being driven in an anti-social manner.

“Respect Orders will give the police and councils the ability crack down on those who persistently make our streets and public spaces feel unsafe. I am pleased to see the ability to ban offenders from our high street and parks, with a power of arrest for those who ignore such direction, as well as the power to require individuals to seek help for underlying causes of their poor behaviour such as drug or alcohol misuse.

“Similarly, giving officers the option to immediately seize vehicles from those who use their vehicle in an anti-social manner is welcome addition to the powers available to officers to crack down on anti-social behaviour, and make our street safer.”

The enhanced powers will complement the Government’s commitment to restoring neighbourhood policing in England and Wales. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will bring back police patrols to town centres, recruit thousands of additional officers to neighbourhood roles and ensure every community has a named local officer to turn to.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said: “I welcome the government’s continued commitment to tackling anti-social behaviour, as demonstrated in today’s announcement of Respect Orders.

“I support any initiative aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour, though I urge the Government to adopt a more nuanced approach to ensure no victim is left behind.

“Tackling public nuisances like graffiti and street drinking is important. We must also confront the persistent forms of anti-social behaviour that plague victims in their homes.

“These individuals often endure targeted and persistent campaigns of harassment, yet the harm they suffer is frequently underestimated by police and other agencies.

“Hotspot policing, focused on town centres, does little to support victims in residential areas. This pilot will be crucial in determining whether Respect Orders provide a more effective solution.

“Victims of persistent anti-social behaviour face a postcode lottery in terms of support, with many receiving little or no help. I urge the Government to address this as a priority. It is right that we tackle offending behaviour, but at the same time we must also offer a lifeline to those suffering.”

Harvinder Saimbhi, ASB Help chief executive officer said: “As the national charity that supports victims of anti-social behaviour, we regularly hear from victims who share with us the impact and harm they experience from repeated incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“We welcome the approach of addressing the root causes of the anti-social behaviour which will in turn work towards reducing reoffending rates, therefore bringing respite to victims and communities. We are keen to see how the respect orders will be implemented.”