London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour’s Respect orders will impose up to two years in jail, unlimited fines and curfews for penalties for persistent antisocial behaviour with penalties. Police will gain enhanced powers including vehicle seizures and ban offenders from public spaces with pilot programs starting in 2026.
Yvette Cooper, the Home secretary will announce Labour’s Respect orders on Friday, proposing up to two years jail terms for repeat antisocial behavior.
Ms Cooper’s Friday announcement will allow police and local councils to prohibit persistent offenders from town centres and public drinking spots, such as high streets and parks.
According to the Home Office, efforts will be made to reduce street racing, cruising, and car meets, where large groups of cars gather in public areas with loud music and revving engines.
In a nod to Tony Blair’s Respect Agenda and ASBOs, which aimed to “put the law-abiding majority back in charge of their communities”, Yvette Cooper plans to grant new police powers to instantly seize off-road bikes, e-on pavements, and street racing cars as part of the crackdown.
During the launch speech of this initiative at that time, Sir Tony said, “No liberal democracy can countenance the tyranny of a minority in any of its communities. We, as government, will discharge our duties. We will attempt to create the conditions in which respect can flourish”.
He added, “I believe in the innate decency of the British people and I believe that, together, we will eradicate the scourge of anti-social behaviour and restore Respect to the communities of Britain”.
Now nearly after two decades, Ms Cooper said, “Antisocial behaviour chips away at communities’ sense of confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims”.
She added, “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”.
The home secretary also stated that a growing number of town centres and neighbourhoods across Britain 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”.
As reported by Independent News, government figures revealed that more than a third of individuals witnessed or experienced antisocial behaviour last year, with 1 million incidents recorded by the police.
Under the proposed bill, perpetrators of antisocial behaviour will be required to undergo mandatory rehabilitation, including drug and alcohol treatment or anger management courses.
The home office also warned that offenders who violate the respect orders could face up to two years in jail, fines, and community orders, such as unpaid work and curfews.
The National Police Chiefs Council welcomed the proposed changes, stating they would offer new powers to target “persistently making our streets and public places feel unsafe”.
Andy Prophet, Deputy Chief Constable and NPCC’s lead on antisocial behaviour, said “I am pleased to see the ability to ban offenders from our high streets and parks, with a power of arrest for those who ignore such direction, as well as the power to require individuals to seek help for underlying causes of their poor behaviour such as drug or alcohol misuse”.
A recent report from a watchdog stated that police “must and can do better” in addressing anti-social behaviour.
ASB Help, an antisocial behaviour charity, expressed support for the move, adding that it is “keen to see how the respect orders will be implemented”.
Chief executive Harvinder Saimbhi at ASB Help, said “As the national charity that supports victims of ASB, we regularly hear from victims who share with us the impact and harm they experience from repeated incidents of ASB”.
He added, “We welcome the approach of addressing the root causes of the anti-social behaviour which will in turn work towards reducing reoffending rates, therefore bringing respite to victims and communities. We are keen to see how the respect orders will be implemented”.