New powers aimed at tackling persistent anti-social behaviour have come into force and give police and local authorities additional options to deal with repeat offenders.
Respect Orders, introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, will allow courts to impose restrictions on adults responsible for anti-social behaviour, including preventing individuals from entering particular locations such as town centres, shopping areas and other public spaces.
Breaching an order will be a criminal offence, with offenders potentially facing fines, community sentences or imprisonment.
The measures are intended to strengthen the response to persistent offending, which can have a significant impact on residents, businesses and confidence in local communities.
Courts will also be able to impose requirements aimed at addressing some of the underlying causes of offending, including substance misuse, in an effort to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Philip Wilkinson has welcomed the additional powers but said their effectiveness will depend on how they are used by police, local authorities and other partner agencies.
Mr Wilkinson said: "Persistent anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on people's lives.
'Whether it is businesses repeatedly targeted by the same individuals or residents dealing with ongoing problems in their neighbourhoods, it is important that people have confidence that action will be taken.
"These new powers are a welcome addition to the measures already available to police and local authorities, particularly where individuals continue to offend despite previous interventions.
"However, introducing new legislation is only part of the answer. We need to make sure these powers can be used effectively and proportionately, that breaches are dealt with appropriately and that the agencies responsible have the resources to make them work.
"We also need to recognise that enforcement alone will not resolve every problem. Tackling persistent anti-social behaviour requires a coordinated approach, with neighbourhood policing teams, councils, businesses and other organisations working together to address both the offending and, where possible, its underlying causes.
"Ultimately, what matters to our communities is whether these measures make a difference to the problems they experience. That must be how we judge their success."
The introduction of Respect Orders comes as the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner continues to work with Wiltshire Police, local authorities and businesses to improve the response to retail crime and anti-social behaviour across Swindon and Wiltshire.
Respect Orders will sit alongside other measures available to tackle anti-social behaviour, including Criminal Behaviour Orders and Public Spaces Protection Orders.
The new orders can be imposed by civil courts on adults aged 18 and over and can include restrictions on behaviour as well as requirements intended to address the factors contributing to offending.
Unlike the civil injunctions they replace, breaching a Respect Order will be a criminal offence.
Chief Inspector Steve Jolly, Head of the Wiltshire Police Prevention Hub, said: "Persistent anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on people's quality of life, leaving residents, businesses and visitors feeling intimidated or unsafe in their own communities.
"Respect Orders provide an important new tool for policing and our partner agencies, helping us take stronger action against those who repeatedly cause harm while also creating opportunities to address the root causes of their behaviour.
"These powers are not about criminalising people unnecessarily. They are about protecting communities, supporting victims and ensuring there are meaningful consequences for those who refuse to change their behaviour despite repeated intervention.
"Our officers and staff work hard every day to tackle anti-social behaviour and listen to the concerns of local people.
"Respect Orders will strengthen that work and help us deliver safer town centres and public spaces across Wiltshire and Swindon."
The legislation forms part of wider government efforts to strengthen neighbourhood policing and improve the response to anti-social behaviour.
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