• Landmark powers will be rolled out nationally from 26 October
  • Repeat ASB perpetrators to be banned from the public places they blight
  • Part of sweeping crackdown on behaviours impacting town centres and high streets

Respect Orders will launch across England and Wales in October, giving police and councils tougher powers to crack down on repeat perpetrators of antisocial behaviour (ASB).

The landmark new tool addresses a significant gap in existing ASB powers and will enable authorities to take stronger enforcement action to tackle relentless adult offenders – including prison sentences. Officers will, for example, be able to ban them from town centres or stop them drinking in public hotspots like high streets and local parks.

Offenders can also be ordered by the courts to tackle the root causes of their behaviour – from drug or alcohol treatment to anger management courses – instead of simply being allowed to return to the streets and start the cycle again.

Breaching a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, with police able to arrest anyone who ignores the rules. Those who flout the orders could face jail time.

The government will today lay the legal paperwork needed to bring the Orders into force, paving the way for them to launch nationally from Monday 26 October 2026.

The national roll-out means police and councils across England and Wales can go after the worst offenders blighting town centres, high streets and local neighbourhoods.

Courts will also be able to hand out unlimited fines and tough community punishments, such as unpaid work and curfews.

The new power will partially replace existing Civil Injunction powers for adults, allowing the police to immediately arrest anyone who is flouting their Respect Order and bringing a wider range of penalties because breaches will be dealt with in the criminal courts.

 John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of the Neighbourhood Watch Network said:

"A common misconception about antisocial behaviour (ASB) is that it’s low-level crime. While some ASB can have a relatively low level of impact, our members consistently tell us it is a priority and it is what they see and experience more than any other crime. It can significantly impact on people's quality of life, feelings of safety, and mental health. Our hope is that the government’s introduction of Respect Orders will not only introduce necessary new powers to curb persistent offending but also reassure people that reports can and will be acted on."

Crime and 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. This sends a clear message that repeat offenders cannot be allowed to make life a misery for local communities any longer.”

It comes as part of this government’s flagship Crime and Policing Act, which received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 and includes sweeping measures to crack down on ASB.

Police have already been handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to ASB. Officers will no longer have to issue a warning before taking nuisance vehicles off the road.

They can also move more quickly to destroy vehicles used for ASB, with the timeframe for disposing of seized vehicles now down from 14 days to 7 days. This will help tackle issues such as noisy and disruptive car meets.

Together, these powers will help tackle the problem of ASB by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that this behaviour is not tolerated. They also give the police and wider criminal justice system vital powers to realise this government’s mission to restore confidence in policing.

Respect Orders form part of the wider action to tackle crime and restore confidence in policing. Including a pledge for 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers, with more than 3,000 already in post. The government is also setting up a new, world-class National Police Service to combat nationwide and cross-border crime.

Harvinder Saimbhi, CEO of ASBHelp said:

“Respect Orders are a major step forward for victims who have endured the same offenders causing harm again and again. For too long, communities have been left feeling unsafe while persistent perpetrators return to the very places they blight. These new powers finally give police and councils the ability to act decisively against repeat perpetrators, banning them from the places they continually blight, requiring them to address the underlying causes of their behaviour, and ensuring that breaches carry meaningful criminal consequences.

“Victims want visible action and consistent enforcement. Respect Orders send a clear national message, anti‑social behaviour will be met with firm, immediate consequences, and communities will no longer be expected to tolerate repeat harm.”

Rebecca Bryant OBE, CEO of Resolve said:

“Resolve welcomes the rollout of Respect Orders, which is a significant and positive step forward in the way persistent anti-social behaviour is tackled and will be a powerful new tool to protect victims and prevent further offending. We particularly welcome the decision to introduce Respect Orders across the country, ensuring that communities can benefit from this stronger response regardless of where they live.

“The priority now must be to ensure the rollout is supported by clear guidance, effective training and strong partnership working between police, councils, housing providers and support services. As the UK’s leading membership organisation dedicated to tackling ASB, Resolve looks forward to working closely with the Government and practitioners across the sector to help make the national rollout a success.”