Convicted criminals in England and Wales will face a radical new form of punishment under a major government crackdown: being banned from entering pubs, attending football matches, and enjoying concerts.
The new community order measures, announced by the Ministry of Justice, will empower courts to prohibit offenders from specific town centres, licensed premises, and major sports and music venues. This initiative is designed to create 'alcohol abstinence and sobriety zones' to directly tackle drink-related reoffending.
How the New Criminal Bans Will Work
The scheme is an extension of the existing Alcohol Abstinence Monitoring Requirement, which has been used to enforce sobriety through electronic tags that monitor sweat for alcohol consumption. The new rules will allow judges to go a step further by imposing strict geographical exclusions.
Offenders who breach these new conditions of their community sentence will face swift penalties, potentially being hauled back to court and facing more severe punishment, including prison time.
A Targeted Approach to Reduce Reoffending
The policy is specifically aimed at criminals whose offences are linked to alcohol consumption, such as violent assault, disorderly behaviour, and criminal damage. By removing them from environments where alcohol is readily available, the government aims to break the cycle of crime.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Dominic Raab, stated the move is about 'standing with the law-abiding majority and ensuring offenders are punished properly.' He emphasised that the public has a right to enjoy their city centres and social events 'without suffering the nuisance and misery of crime.'
Expansion of Electronic Monitoring
Alongside the location bans, the government is also significantly expanding the use of sobriety tags. Since their initial rollout, these tags have enforced over 4,500 years of alcohol-free sentences. The tags take a sample of an offender's sweat every 30 minutes to ensure they are complying with the alcohol ban.
This two-pronged approach—physical exclusion from temptation and constant monitoring—forms the cornerstone of the government's latest strategy to enhance community sentencing and improve public safety.
