PCC welcomes new Respect Orders

Under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, the government is launching Respect Orders across England and Wales in October, to give police and councils tougher powers to crack down on repeat adult perpetrators of anti-social behaviour (ASB).

ASB remains one of the issues that people across Avon and Somerset raise with me most often. I regularly hear from retailers, businesses and town centre workers about the effect it has on their safety and ability to work.

It can be far more than just a ‘low-level’ crime. ASB is often linked to shoplifting, intimidation, violence and other offences. The consequences are felt by those who visit, live or work in our town centres and high streets, affecting quality of life, local businesses and local economies.

That is one of the reasons reducing ASB is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and why I welcome the government’s new Respect Orders, which come into effect on 26 October. 

Respect Orders will give police, councils and courts stronger powers to tackle repeat adult offenders of ASB. They will better enable police to ban individuals from town centres or stop them drinking in public places like high streets and local parks. They will also have stronger powers to seize vehicles involved ASB, including e-bikes and e-scooters.  

Respect Orders carry a wider range of penalties for those who breach them compared to existing powers, including the possibility of imprisonment. This addresses an important gap in the current system and will help better protect our communities. 

But enforcement alone is not enough. 

The causes of ASB and retail crime are often complex and deeply rooted, frequently linked to wider vulnerability. Issues such as addiction, poor mental health, homelessness, and access to basic needs can all play a role. If we want to reduce reoffending, we must also address these underlying causes. 

That is why it is so important that Respect Orders, alongside existing powers, also enable courts to require offenders to engage with interventions such as drug or alcohol treatment. I hope to see these new powers used not only for enforcement, but also for positive intervention.  

I continue to commission services across Avon and Somerset that focus on prevention, early intervention and reducing reoffending – including Resolve West, which supports victims of ASB while helping offenders understand the impact of their actions and make positive changes. 

My office is also looking at how we can create a more joined-up approach to ensure the police and partners are tackling business crime and supporting safer, thriving high streets and retail centres. We will work closely with businesses and other partners to shape these plans, with the ambition of bringing together neighbourhood policing teams, local businesses, Business Crime Reduction Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts, local authorities and other partners to share insights, address common challenges and drive collective action where it is needed most. 

Everyone deserves to feel safe where they live, work and shop. But lasting change will only come from combining effective enforcement with prevention, support and partnership working to tackle the root causes of ASB and retail crime.