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
New ASBO-style orders will be rolled out across England and Wales in October, the government has announced.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones will confirm to MPs on Wednesday that Respect Orders – which could result in jail sentences if they’re breached – will be in force later this year. The orders will see civil courts able to ban offenders from certain types of anti-social behaviour 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 a Respect Order. During the ASBO era, unusual transgressions included having loud sex, a shepherd who used his flock to intimidate neighbours and a 60-year-old man ordered to stop dressing as a schoolgirl.
The spokesman did not rule out similar orders – saying a court would need to accept the behaviour is, or is likely to, cause harassment, alarm or distress and agree that it is just and convenient to grant a Respect Order.
They will be used to tackle “relentless” offenders, the government stated. Ms 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.”
The Home Office confirmed the new powers will come into force on October 26. It said the new powers would address a significant gap in the way police can respond to anti-social behaviour.
Courts will also have the power to order offenders to tackle the root causes of their behaviour, with measures like drug or alcohol treatment to anger management courses. Those who flout the orders could face jail time. Courts will also be able to hand out unlimited fines, as well as community punishments including unpaid work and curfews.
Harvinder Saimbhi, who heads charity 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.”
And 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.”
ASBOs were introduced by Labour in 1998 and scrapped by the Tories in 2014. They were created to target behaviour that caused harassment, alarm, or distress to others.
The government said Respect Orders will differ as they can only apply to adults and will include the option to take steps to address underlying issues.