UK authorities ramp up anti-social behaviour crackdown with new powers and property closures
Published on 07/19/2026 at 10:37 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Police forces and councils across the UK are rolling out a wave of enforcement measures — from court-ordered "Respect Orders" to residential evictions — as persistent anti-social behaviour continues to blight town centres and housing estates.
New legal powers on the horizon
Lancashire is preparing to introduce Respect Orders from October 2026 under the Crime and Policing Act. These orders will give courts the power to ban offenders from specific areas, restrict public drinking, and compel individuals to attend rehabilitation programmes for substance abuse or anger management. Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw confirmed that breaching an order will be a criminal offence.
Further north, the Inverclyde Alliance approved a five-year Community Safety Partnership Strategy for 2026-2031 on July 18. The plan follows a strategic needs assessment showing that while overall crime has fallen, certain communities remain disproportionately affected by anti-social activity. The partnership involves 12 organisations, including Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and local housing associations.
Residential closures and evictions
Authorities in the West Midlands and East Riding of Yorkshire have taken direct action against problem properties. In Walsall, police and the council worked with housing provider GreenSquareAccord to tackle criminal activity at The Heritage flats on Wednesbury Road. Officials confirmed the issuance of two eviction notices and a closure order for one flat, supported by new CCTV — part of the wider #SaferTownsSummer initiative.
In Goole, East Riding Council obtained a partial closure order for a flat on Morley Street at Beverley Magistrates' Court on July 15. The order runs for three months until October 15, 2026, and prohibits anyone except the tenant and emergency services from entering. Local officials said the property had been linked to reports of violence and drug use since March 2025.
Public space crackdowns
Nottingham City Council approved a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the city centre on July 18, covering the Castle, St Ann's, Arboretum, and Meadows wards. The three-year order targets public urination, nuisance busking, and unauthorised money requests. A separate consultation on banning face coverings is planned. The decision follows more than 3,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded in the area between December 2025 and June 2026.
Elsewhere, councils are using consultations and active patrols to manage public spaces:
- Redhill: Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is surveying residents on a PSPO covering the town centre and Clarendon Road car park. The consultation runs until August 23, 2026.
- Wolverhampton: West Midlands Police have deployed PSPOs in the city centre and Bentley Bridge, with mounted officers and school liaison work to tackle unacceptable behaviour.
- Staffordshire: Between July 17 and 19, police used Section 34 dispersal orders at Festival Park to target illegal driving. Vehicles used anti-socially can be seized if the driver has received a warning within the previous 12 months.
Violence prompts swift police response
In Halesowen, West Midlands Police arrested two teenagers, aged 15 and 16, following a violent disorder involving a large group on the High Street at approximately 12:30 BST on July 18. Extra officers were deployed under a temporary dispersal order to restore order.
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