The new powers, which will be introduced across England and Wales from October under the Crime and Policing Act, are designed to help authorities take more effective action against repeat offenders whose behaviour causes harassment, alarm and distress in local neighbourhoods.

Respect Orders will enable courts to ban offenders from specific locations, prevent behaviours such as public drinking in known hotspots, and require individuals to address the underlying causes of their offending through measures including drug or alcohol treatment and anger management programmes.

Anyone who breaches a Respect Order will commit a criminal offence and could face arrest, fines, community penalties, or imprisonment.

Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said:

“Anti-social behaviour can have a lasting impact on people’s lives, making residents feel unsafe in their own communities and damaging confidence in local areas.

“These new Respect Orders are a welcome addition to the tools available to police and local authorities, giving them stronger powers to tackle the small number of persistent offenders who cause misery for others.

“Crucially, the orders combine robust enforcement with opportunities to address the underlying causes of offending, helping to break the cycle of anti-social behaviour and prevent further harm.

“Tackling anti-social behaviour remains a key priority in my Police and Crime Plan, and I know how important this issue is to residents across Lancashire. I look forward to working with Lancashire Constabulary, councils and community safety partners to ensure these new powers are used effectively to make our neighbourhoods safer and improve public confidence.”

The introduction of Respect Orders follows other recent measures to strengthen the response to anti-social behaviour, including enhanced police powers to seize vehicles linked to nuisance and disruptive activity. Together, these measures will help ensure communities have greater protection from persistent anti-social behaviour and that offenders face meaningful consequences for their actions.