New police powers introduced in New Zealand and United Kingdom

New legislation has been introduced in New Zealand and the United Kingdom to grant police expanded powers to manage public order and anti-social behaviour.

In New Zealand, police can now issue move-on orders to adults for up to 24 hours in response to disorderly conduct, unreasonable begging, or rough sleeping. Under the new law, rough sleeping alone can justify an order, even without disruptive behaviour. Violating these orders can lead to a $1,000 fine or up to three months in prison. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith stated the law provides an additional tool for managing public places rather than criminalising homelessness. Police intend to seek voluntary compliance initially and may refer individuals to support services.

In the United Kingdom, the government has introduced Respect Orders to help police tackle persistent anti-social behaviour. These orders, aimed at adult offenders, allow for restrictions such as curfews, town centre bans, and unlimited fines. Unlike previous Anti-social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs), Respect Orders include provisions for mandatory rehabilitation programmes for drug or alcohol-related offending, as well as anger management classes. Policing Minister Sarah Jones noted that the orders aim to combine punitive measures with treatment options for prolific perpetrators.