New legal powers known as Respect Orders will be available to Lancashire police and local authorities from October, designed to tackle persistent anti‑social behaviour in communities including the Fylde coast.
What the new orders will do
The measures form part of changes introduced across England and Wales under the Crime and Policing Act. They are aimed at giving courts the ability to impose location bans and behavioural restrictions on repeat offenders whose conduct causes harassment, alarm or distress.
- Courts can prohibit individuals from entering specified public places.
- Orders may restrict activities such as drinking in known hotspots.
- They can require attendance on programmes addressing underlying causes, for example drug or alcohol treatment or anger management.
The breach of a Respect Order will be a criminal offence, which could lead to arrest and a range of penalties including fines, community sentences or imprisonment.
Local reaction and policing priorities
Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, welcomed the new tool as strengthening the options available to police and councils dealing with a “small number of persistent offenders”. He said the approach balances enforcement with routes to address the reasons behind offending.
“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.”
In his Police and Crime Plan, tackling anti‑social behaviour is flagged as a priority. The introduction of Respect Orders is intended to help restore residents’ confidence in local areas and reduce the lasting consequences that repeated nuisance behaviour can have on communities.
How the powers will be used locally
Implementation will require coordination between Lancashire Constabulary, district councils and community safety partners. Authorities will need to identify persistent hotspots, gather evidence suitable for court use, and ensure referrals to treatment or support services are available where orders require them.
| Aspect | What it means |
|---|---|
| Start date | October (across England and Wales) |
| Enforcement | Criminal offence if breached; arrest and penalties possible |
| Support measures | Possible requirement to attend treatment or programmes |
For residents troubled by ongoing anti‑social behaviour, the new orders may offer clearer legal remedies. However, their effectiveness will depend on local capacity to assemble evidence, prosecute breaches and provide the support services courts can mandate. Close monitoring by the PCC and local authorities will be necessary to ensure the powers are used fairly and deliver the promised reductions in nuisance and harm.
Further detail on how Respect Orders will be operationalised in Lancashire, and guidance for members of the public on reporting persistent anti‑social behaviour, is expected from local partners ahead of the October commencement.
