New-style 'Asbos' to be rolled out across England and Wales in bid to tackle yobs

By DAVID BARRETT, HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 22:30, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 22:35, 14 July 2026 Labour's resurrected 'Asbo' will be rolled out across England and Wales later this year in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour. The Government's 'respect orders' will be imposed on yobs by a civil court and breaches could lead to immediate arrest and a jail sentence. However, respect orders will be less wide-ranging than their predecessor - anti-social behaviour orders, or 'Asbos' – which were introduced by Tony Blair's government in 1998 and scrapped by the Coalition government in 2014. Asbos applied to anyone over the age of 10 and carried up to five years' imprisonment, but the new measure will only be imposed on adults and carry a maximum two-year term. Respect orders will be used to tackle behaviour that 'has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person'. It could include alcohol and drug-related yobbery, vandalism, noisy neighbours or persistent riders of e-bikes or e-scooters, for example. The measures will be rolled out across England and Wales from October 26. Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said: 'Antisocial behaviour can devastate lives. The Government's 'respect orders' will be imposed on yobs by a civil court and breaches could lead to immediate arrest and a jail sentence 'Behind every statistic are residents who want to feel safe where they live, and neighbourhoods held hostage by the same repeat offenders. 'Respect orders will ban perpetrators from the places they blight, force them to confront the causes of their behaviour and make breaching one a criminal offence with serious consequences, including prison. 'This sends a clear message that repeat offenders cannot be allowed to make life a misery for local communities any longer.' Police and other agencies will be able to ask a court to ban hooligans from town centres or specific locations such as parks. Perpetrators could be required to complete rehabilitation courses such as drug or alcohol treatment or an anger management course. Apart from a jail term of up to two years, penalties for breaching an order could include curfews, unlimited fines and community orders such as unpaid work. Apart from police, other agencies will be able to apply for the orders to be imposed, including councils, social landlords, Transport for London, the Environment Agency and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority. Harvinder Saimbhi of charity ASBHelp said: 'Victims want visible action and consistent enforcement. 'Respect orders send a clear national message, anti‑social behaviour will be met with firm, immediate consequences, and communities will no longer be expected to tolerate repeat harm.'