Thugs who terrorise communities with antisocial behaviour will face bans and jail time under a new law being voted on by MPs this week.
Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said new Respect Orders will restore confidence in the Police, after years of “weak” inaction under the Tories.
The orders, to be introduced with the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill, will give police and councils the power to ban persistent offenders from town centres, neighbourhoods, high streets and parks where they have caused misery.
Other offenders could be forced to take alcohol or anger management courses.
And breaching such an order will be a criminal offence – which could leave yobs facing two-year jail sentences.
“This Bill will make our country safer by restoring neighbourhood policing, rebuilding public trust in criminal justice, and giving law enforcement the powers needed to protect communities,” Ms Cooper said:
“After years of weak and inconsistent responses to antisocial behaviour, our new Respect Orders will enable police to tackle persistent offenders who blight our town centres with tough consequences for those who breach these orders.”
Police will also be given the power to seize vehicles without warning, letting them get off-road bikes and dangerous e-scooters off the streets.
Initially, Respect Orders will be made by civil courts – but breaches will be heard by Magistrates.
Public bodies – including local councils, social landlords, Police, local transport authorities, the Environment Agency and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority – will be able to apply for the orders.
The return of the policing bill to the Commons this week comes as McDonalds reported a 64% increase in physical and verbal assaults against staff and a 148% rise in reported ASB incidents compared to 2019.
Writing for the Sunday Mirror, Andrew Moys, a Vice-President at the fast food chain said an increasing number of incidents involved the use of weapons.
“Businesses like ours invest substantial amounts in training, security guards and the use of technology such as body worn cameras, but these approaches can only do so much,” Mr Moys wrote.
“This is why McDonald’s, alongside industry partners, has called for urgent action and supports the Prime Minister’s ‘Safer Streets Mission’. The introduction of the Crime & Policing Bill and focus on a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are welcome steps. Businesses alone cannot tackle this issue. It requires a collective, targeted response underpinned by the relevant authorities having the resource and powers they need to act.”
Ms Cooper added: “We must take stronger action against antisocial behaviour that destroys lives and livelihoods, including the one million antisocial behaviour incidents recorded last year that should never be dismissed as merely ‘trivial’.
“The Prime Minister has made Safer Streets a key mission in our Plan for Change because rebuilding Britain requires restoring respect for the rule of law and reclaiming our streets from those who would do our communities harm.”
The Crime and Policing Bill will return to the House of Commons for second reading on Monday.
‘Incidents with the use of weapons are becoming a real problem’
By ANDREW MOYS , Vice-President for Impact, McDonald’s UK & Ireland
ANTI-social behaviour has plagued towns and cities across the UK for too long.
Workers in hospitality and retail, the backbone of our high streets, bear the brunt of this scourge daily. The British Retail Consortium’s latest Crime Survey reveals a shocking surge in violence and abuse, with over 2,000 incidents reported daily—up by 50% on the year before. This translates to a staggering 737,000 incidents a year. The financial toll is equally alarming, with the overall cost of retail crime soaring to an unsustainable £4.2 billion annually, up by nearly £1 billion from the previous year’s amount.
Perpetrators of ASB are becoming bolder and more aggressive, inflicting physical and emotional harm on their victims and eroding the sense of safety in our communities. At McDonald’s, we witness this reality daily. Across our 1,500 UK & Ireland restaurants, we’ve seen a 64% increase in physical and verbal assaults against our people and a 148% rise in reported ASB incidents compared to 2019.
Alarmingly, incidents are increasingly serious with the use of weapons becoming a real problem. Businesses like ours invest substantial amounts in training, security guards and the use of technology such as body worn cameras, but these approaches can only do so much.
This is why McDonald’s, alongside industry partners, has called for urgent action and supports the Prime Minister’s ‘Safer Streets Mission’. The introduction of the Crime & Policing Bill and focus on a Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee are welcome steps. Businesses alone cannot tackle this issue. It requires a collective, targeted response underpinned by the relevant authorities having the resource and powers they need to act.
Our communities need more police on the streets and decisive action against persistent ASB offenders. Measures such as Respect Orders, specific offences for assaulting retail workers, and greater police powers are necessary. These steps will enable our teams to collaborate more effectively with local police, restoring confidence in law enforcement’s ability to respond swiftly and decisively.
However, addressing ASB’s root causes is equally important. We must unlock new opportunities for young people, who are disproportionately affected by this issue. A million young people are not in education, employment, or training. And we know that youth services across the country have also been cut in recent years.
It is perhaps no surprise that ASB therefore is on the rise, with young people bearing the brunt. The unfortunate reality is that our franchisees and crew members report ever more perpetrators of ASB of being of a younger age – isolated, lonely young people with few places to go. Our own research shows that almost two-thirds of young people are worried about their future.
So, we must step up for young people and find new ways to inspire and guide the next generation. The establishment of Young Futures Hubs and Prevention Partnerships as part of the ‘Safer Streets’ mission will be an equally important step in making our communities safer.
But brands popular with young people, like McDonald’s, also have a responsibility to act. Our ‘Makin It’ programme, launched last year, champions youth work and provides safe, welcoming spaces in our restaurants. By partnering with national organisations like BBC Children in Need and local charities such as The Foxton Centre in Preston and Spiral Skills in Brixton, we’re making a tangible difference in communities across the country.
These partnerships not only help young people thrive but also support local police and communities. In places like Preston, Grimsby, Leicester, and Coventry, we have seen a decline in ASB incidents, easing the burden on police and local authority resources.
From a business perspective, we too see real benefits, supporting our efforts to identify and recruit brilliant young talent across the country, our managers and leaders of tomorrow. As the UK’s largest employer of young people, we have a vested interest in ensuring that they have an opportunity to meet in safe spaces, seek out support and develop the skills they need for a productive and fulfilling career.
ASB devastates local communities and the lives of its victims. The time to act is now. Together, we can create safer, more supportive environments for everyone.
