UK police gain new powers to combat anti‑social behaviour

The Crime and Policing Act has received Royal Assent, introducing “Respect Orders” that allow police and local councils to impose bans on persistent adult offenders, require treatment or anger‑management programmes, and enforce unlimited fines or up to two years’ imprisonment for breaches. Officers can also seize nuisance vehicles, such as off‑road bikes and e‑scooters, without issuing a prior warning.

In the Kent coastal district of Thanet, police have exercised these powers through weekend‑long dispersal orders covering the seafronts of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. The orders enable officers to direct anyone engaging in anti‑social behaviour to leave designated zones immediately, with arrests for anyone who returns after being dispersed. The measures are part of a broader government push to restore confidence in policing and tackle knife crime, backed by statements from Policing and Crime Minister Sarah Jones and local community groups.