On 15 July 2026, the Government confirmed the legal framework for Respect Orders coming into force, further confirming that the new powers will commence across England and Wales on Monday 26 October 2026. The orders were introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026 as part of the Government's wider package of measures aimed at tackling persistent anti-social behaviour (ASB) and strengthening community safety. 

What are Respect Orders? – A quick reminder

Respect Orders are a new civil order available against adults aged 18 and over who have engaged in, or are threatening to engage in, anti-social behaviour. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 amends the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, enabling courts to impose both prohibitions and positive requirements on offenders. 

A court may make a Respect Order where it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the individual has engaged in anti-social behaviour and that it is just and convenient to make the order to prevent further misconduct. Anti-social behaviour is defined as conduct causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person. 

Please see our previous post here for more details on Respect Orders.

How do they differ from existing powers?

Respect Orders are intended to replace the current Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction (ASBI) for adults, while youth injunctions for those aged 10 to 17 will remain available under the existing framework

Many features will be familiar to practitioners, and as per the current regime for injunctions, Respect Orders can:

• Be sought by local authorities, police forces and registered providers of social housing.
• Be obtained in the County Court or High Court.
• Include prohibitions restricting behaviour or access to particular locations.
• Include positive requirements designed to address the root causes of offending, such as substance misuse treatment, etc

However, the most significant change is in respect of enforcement. Whilst at present breaches of existing adult injunctions are generally dealt with through civil contempt proceedings, breach of a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, giving police and prosecutors access to stronger enforcement powers, including arrest, prosecution, fines, community penalties and, in appropriate cases, imprisonment.

What does this mean for local authorities and housing providers?

The introduction of Respect Orders provides local authorities, police and registered providers with an additional enforcement tool to tackle persistent and serious anti-social behaviour. Organisations should review their ASB policies, procedures and evidence-gathering practices ahead of the October commencement date to ensure they are prepared to utilise the new powers effectively. 

As the commencement date approaches, Respect Orders are expected to become a key part of the anti-social behaviour toolkit, combining preventative interventions with more robust enforcement measures to protect communities and support victims of persistent ASB. Please refer to our previous post here for more information on the Crime and Policing Act 2026.

For more information

For further information and advice, please get in touch.