New Respect Orders, similar to ASBOs, will be implemented in England and Wales starting in October, as announced by the government. Policing Minister Sarah Jones is set to inform MPs that these orders, carrying the potential for jail time if violated, will be enforced later this year. The Respect Orders empower civil courts to prohibit individuals from engaging in specific forms of anti-social conduct, such as public drinking in town centers and parks.
According to a Home Office spokesperson, there is no fixed list of offenses that warrant a Respect Order. During the ASBO era, peculiar breaches ranged from loud intimate activities to a shepherd using sheep to intimidate neighbors. The spokesperson hinted at the possibility of similar orders by emphasizing that a court must acknowledge behavior causing or likely to cause distress, and deem it appropriate to grant a Respect Order.
The government emphasized that these measures will target persistent offenders. Ms. Jones emphasized the impact of anti-social behavior on communities, stating that Respect Orders will restrict offenders from areas they disrupt, compel them to address the root causes of their actions, and make violations a criminal offense with severe penalties, including imprisonment.
The Home Office confirmed that the new powers will become effective on October 26, addressing a significant gap in police responses to anti-social behavior. Courts will also be able to mandate offenders to address the underlying issues contributing to their conduct, such as substance abuse treatment or anger management courses. Violators may face imprisonment, unlimited fines, community service, or curfews.
Harvinder Saimbhi, of ASBHelp charity, praised Respect Orders for providing relief to victims plagued by repeat offenders. John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of the Neighbourhood Watch Network, highlighted the importance of addressing the impact of anti-social behavior on people’s well-being and the hope that the new measures will offer reassurance to those affected.
Introduced by the Labour Party in 1998 and discontinued by the Tories in 2014, ASBOs were designed to combat behavior causing distress or alarm to others. Respect Orders, a different concept, will solely apply to adults and include provisions for addressing underlying issues.