The Home Office has confirmed that Respect Orders will be in force across England and Wales from October 26, giving civil courts new powers to address nuisance behaviour. Policing Minister Sarah Jones will announce to MPs on Wednesday that the orders, which can result in jail sentences if breached, will be rolled out later this year.
How Respect Orders Will Work
Respect Orders allow civil courts to ban offenders from specific anti-social behaviours, such as drinking in high streets and parks. A Home Office spokesman told The Mirror there is no definitive list of offences that will result in an order. Courts will decide based on whether the behaviour is likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, and if it is just and convenient to grant the order.
Courts can also require offenders to address root causes of their behaviour, such as drug or alcohol treatment or anger management courses. Breaching an order is a criminal offence, carrying potential jail time, unlimited fines, or community punishments like unpaid work and curfews.
Government and Charity Reactions
Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: "Antisocial behaviour can devastate lives. Behind every statistic are residents who want to feel safe where they live, and neighbourhoods held hostage by the same repeat offenders. Respect Orders will ban perpetrators from the places they blight, force them to confront the causes of their behaviour and make breaching one a criminal offence with serious consequences, including prison."
Harvinder Saimbhi, head of charity ASBHelp, said: "Respect Orders are a major step forward for victims who have endured the same offenders causing harm again and again. These new powers finally give police and councils the ability to act decisively against repeat perpetrators."
John Hayward-Cripps, chief executive of Neighbourhood Watch Network, added: "A common misconception about antisocial behaviour is that it’s low-level crime. It can significantly impact on people's quality of life, feelings of safety, and mental health. Our hope is that Respect Orders will not only introduce necessary new powers but also reassure people that reports can and will be acted on."
Comparison with ASBOs
ASBOs were introduced by Labour in 1998 and scrapped by the Tories in 2014. Unlike ASBOs, Respect Orders only apply to adults and include measures to address underlying issues. The government says the orders will tackle "relentless" offenders and address a significant gap in police responses to anti-social behaviour.
