22 November 2024, 00:16

Labor has unveiled plans to introduce so-called “respect orders” in a bid to crack down on anti-social behavior across the UK.

Repeat offenders causing chaos in cities up and down the country could face up to two years in prison for breaching so-called respect orders, the Home Secretary has announced in a new crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

Failure to comply with the orders – set out in Labour’s election manifesto – will be punishable.

Courts will also be given powers to hand out unlimited fines and order those flouting the rules to carry out unpaid work or obey a curfew, the Home Office said on Friday.

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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said too much of the UK was “plagued by anti-social behaviour” and that this was “eroding communities’ sense of trust and pride, undermining local businesses and can have a devastating impact on victims.”

She added: “This cannot be allowed to continue.

“Comply with orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeat anti-social behaviour, keep our communities safe and ensure repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions.

“These new powers along with thousands more neighborhood officers and PCSOs will help this Government deliver on our mission to take back our streets.”

Police and councils will have the power to ban repeat offenders from town centres, public drinking and other offences.

Offenders may also be asked to take anger management classes or attend drug and alcohol rehabilitation to address the causes of their behavior under the plans.

As part of the plans, police will be free to impound vehicles without issuing a warning, in a move the Home Office claims will allow them to tackle “the scourge of dirt bikes in parks and dangerous e-scooters on pavements, street racing and cruising .”

So-called Respect Orders have been compared to Anti-Social Behavior Orders or ‘Asbos’, which were common in England during the Troubles and are still used in Scotland.

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The plans will partly replace civil injunction powers for adults so a “wider range of penalties” is available.

Labor plans to introduce these measures as part of the Crime and Policing Bill, with a trial to take place to ensure they are “as effective as possible.”

Harvinder Saimbhi, chief executive of the charity ASB Help, said: “We welcome the approach of tackling the root causes of anti-social behaviour, which will in turn work to reduce reoffending, giving respite to victims and communities. We is anxious to see how the respect order will be implemented.”

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, who leads the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s work on anti-social behaviour, said: “Complying orders will empower police and councils to crack down on those who persistently make our streets and public spaces feel unsafe.”