The UK government has announced new “respect orders” to tackle anti-social behaviour, with potential offenders facing up to two years in jail. Police and councils in England and Wales will be able to apply for the orders to ban people from town centres or drinking in public places. Breaching the orders will be a criminal offence, with potential fines or unpaid work to be issued. The government said the respect orders would partially replace existing measures and include penalties such as drug or alcohol treatment.
Police will also receive strengthened powers to tackle off-road bikes in parks, dangerous e-scooters on pavements, street racing, and cruising. The new measures will be introduced as part of an upcoming Crime and Policing Bill. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the respect orders a “simple but effective” solution to anti-social behaviour, a problem that “blights communities.” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper compared the orders to Labour’s previous Asbo measures, although they will be adjusted to avoid criminalising young people.
Civil liberties campaign groups have expressed concerns regarding the new orders, believing they may be misused, especially to target the homeless. Akiko Hart, Liberty campaign group’s director, expressed particular concern, calling the orders “wholly unnecessary” and “near-identical” to existing powers. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for more local community policing.
Last year saw over one million incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded in England and Wales. Cooper said the government would increase the number of neighbourhood police and community support officers by 13,000, but questions have been raised over whether police have the resources to tackle the issue effectively. Asbos were scrapped in 2014 because of their failure to rehabilitate offenders, with Theresa May labelling them too bureaucratic and ineffective. Asbos are still used in Scotland and Northern Ireland
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