Home Office to pilot ‘Respect Orders’ tackling anti-social behaviour ahead of national rollout
The Home Office is to pilot so-called ‘Respect Orders’ that will give the police and local councils powers to ban persistent perpetrators of anti-social behaviour from town centres or from drinking in public places such as high streets and local parks.
It said perpetrators could 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. The police will have the ability to immediately arrest anybody who is breaching their Respect Order.
The Home Office has said the police will also be given stronger powers to seize vehicles involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing the vehicles.
“This will allow police to deal more swiftly with the scourge of 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,” the Home Office said.
Home Secretary, Yvette 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.
“Antisocial 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."
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,” the Home Office said.
It added that the new powers would be introduced as part of the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, partially replacing existing civil injunction powers for adults.
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, the Home Office said.
