New Respect Orders give police power to tackle antisocial behaviour

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 00:19 · Archive

Respect Orders, similar to ASBOs, come into force on Monday and carry a two-year prison sentence if breached.

The Government has introduced Respect Orders, which come into force on Monday. The new powers are similar to anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) introduced by Tony Blair's government in 1998 and scrapped in 2014. Unlike ASBOs, Respect Orders apply only to adults, though under-18s can still receive youth injunctions.

Police, local councils, housing associations and transport networks can now apply to courts for Respect Orders against offenders engaged in repeated antisocial behaviour. The Home Office said the orders fill a gap in existing anti-social behaviour powers. Antisocial behaviour is defined as conduct that causes or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household, and includes street drinking, littering and general nuisance behaviour.

Breaching a Respect Order is a criminal offence punishable by up to two years in prison. Courts can also impose restrictions such as curfews, town centre bans and unlimited fines. For the first time, courts will be able to order offenders into drug and alcohol rehab programmes or anger management classes if their behaviour is linked to substance use.

Policing Minister Sarah Jones told The Mirror she expects police forces to be rigorous in enforcing the orders. She said most forces probably have 15 to 20 people for whom Respect Orders could work, and that she will scrutinise chief constables to ensure they make good use of the new power. She told the Evening Standard the orders bring together aspects of previous enforcement tools, with a broad definition allowing neighbourhood teams to use them where needed.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the orders deliver on a government commitment to tackle what she described as antisocial behaviour that "blights our communities" and that authorities now have the powers they need to take action against offenders.

How it is being reported

• New ASBO-style powers to help Met tackle anti-social behaviour in crime-blighted London neighbourhoodsThe Government on Monday introduced Respect Orders, which will see offenders hit with tougher restrictions such as curfews and town centre bansEvening Standard · 26 Oct, 00:01
• New Respect Orders could ban repeat antisocial behaviour offenders from public centresHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood says antisocial behaviour is ‘a blight on our communities’The Independent · 26 Oct, 00:01
• New ASBO-style orders give police power to tackle 'behaviour people get cross about'EXCLUSIVE: Policing minister Sarah Jones told The Mirror she expects police forces to be rigorous in enforcing new Respect Orders, which come into force on MondayThe Mirror · 25 Oct, 23:58

In this story: Sarah Jones · Shabana Mahmood · Metropolitan Police · Home Office · London

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