New powers to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour have come into force, giving courts greater control over repeat offenders.
Respect Orders, introduced under the Crime and Policing Act 2026, can prevent offenders from entering specific locations, including town centres, shopping areas and other public spaces.
Breaching an order will be a criminal offence, with penalties potentially including fines, community sentences or imprisonment.
The measures are intended to strengthen action against repeat offenders, while also allowing courts to impose requirements designed to address underlying issues, such as substance misuse.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Philip Wilkinson has welcomed the new powers, but said their success would depend on how effectively they are used by police, councils and other 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 working with Wiltshire Police, local authorities and businesses to tackle retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
In Salisbury, a Business Crime Reduction Partnership was launched in November 2025 to improve cooperation between businesses, police and other agencies.
The partnership enables organisations to share information, identify persistent offenders and coordinate enforcement activity. It has also supported the use of existing measures, including Criminal Behaviour Orders.
Work is now under way to explore extending the partnership approach to other parts of Wiltshire and Swindon.
Respect Orders will operate alongside existing measures, including Criminal Behaviour Orders and Public Spaces Protection Orders.
The new orders can be imposed by civil courts on adults aged 18 and over. They can restrict behaviour and include requirements intended to tackle factors contributing to offending.
Unlike the civil injunctions they replace, breaches of Respect Orders will constitute a criminal offence.
Chief Inspector Steve Jolly, Head of the Wiltshire Police Prevention Hub, said the powers would help protect communities and support victims affected by repeat offending.
He 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 responses to anti-social behaviour.
Mr Wilkinson said the impact of the new orders would need to be judged by whether they make a meaningful difference to residents and businesses affected by persistent offending.
