Two years in jail for 'respect orders' breach in anti-social behaviour crackdown

Hooligans causing chaos in towns and neighbourhoods could face up to two years behind bars for breaching new 'respect orders', launched as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Non-compliance with these orders, which are outlined in Labour’s election manifesto under the pledge to "return law and order to our streets", will be considered a criminal offence. Courts could impose unlimited fines, enforce unpaid work or set curfews for those who ignore the rules, according to the Home Office. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper referred to the orders as "a modernised version" of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos), designed to take tougher action against repeat offenders.

The Government department said the measures would ensure the "most serious offenders are dealt with before their behaviour can escalate and cause further harm". Ms Cooper revealed details about how the orders would operate on Friday.

She expressed concern over the number of town centres and neighbourhoods being "plagued by anti-social behaviour", stating that it "chips away at communities’ sense of confidence and pride, undermines local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims".

She added: "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.

"These new powers alongside thousands more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs will help this Government deliver on our mission to take back our streets."

Police and councils are set to receive powers to ban repeat offenders from town centres or public drinking areas such as high streets and parks, with officers having the authority to arrest anyone violating their order. The plans also include potential anger management courses or rehabilitation treatment for drug and alcohol issues to address the root causes of their behaviour.

Police will no longer need to issue a warning before seizing vehicles, enabling forces to tackle the "scourge of off-road bikes in parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements, street racing and cruising" more swiftly, as well as disperse car meets which can sometimes attract hundreds of cars and lead to "loud aggressive engine revving and intimidating music", according to the Home Office. This move marks the return of rules similar to anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) previously enforced in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and still in use in Scotland.

These plans will partially replace civil injunction powers for adults, providing a "wider range of penalties". When asked if these measures signalled the return of the Asbo, Ms Cooper told Sky News: "This is a modernised version of Asbos, because we think we have to have stronger action on anti-social behaviour that particularly is blighting town centres."

"We’ve seen the collapse of neighbourhood policing in many of our town centres and communities, we’ve also seen the increase in things like shoplifting and street theft and also anti-social behaviour – real problems that are completely unfair on communities.

"What the respect orders would do is mean that repeat offenders could be, for example, banned from town centres, that you can put stronger restrictions in place on adults who are repeatedly causing real harassment and havoc in the community, and then make sure that you can take proper arrest action."