A Respect Order can ban an adult from doing things, such as going to a named area or contacting named people, and can also require them to do things, such as attend a course, with a named supervisor checking they comply. Respect Orders have been available in England and Wales since 26 October 2026. Breaking one without a reasonable excuse is a crime, with up to 2 years in prison on conviction in the Crown Court.
Updated 30 October 2026 · Sources: legislation.gov.uk (Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Part A1, inserted by section 1 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026; S.I. 2026/960), Home Office “Anti-social behaviour powers: statutory guidance for frontline professionals” (revised October 2026), gov.scot, nidirect
If someone is threatening you, damaging your home or you feel unsafe right now, call 999. For anti-social behaviour that has already happened, call 101 or report it online to your local police force or your council.
This guide goes into the detail of how a Respect Order works once a court is involved. For what counts as anti-social behaviour, how to report it and the ASB Case Review, start with our anti-social behaviour guide.
Respect Orders at a glance
Sources: Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, sections A1 and I1; S.I. 2026/960. Checked 30 October 2026.
What can a Respect Order require someone to do?
A Respect Order can include prohibitions (things the person must not do) and requirements (things they must do), as long as each one helps prevent further anti-social behaviour, under section A1 of the 2014 Act in force since 26 October 2026. As far as practicable, the terms must avoid clashing with the person’s work or education and with any other court order they are subject to.
The Home Office statutory guidance, revised in October 2026, gives examples. Prohibitions can stop someone entering certain areas or associating with certain people, which the guidance says can be used against gang activity, including county lines. Positive requirements are meant to tackle the causes of the behaviour, for example a drug awareness course. Every requirement must name a supervisor, which can be a person or an organisation, and the court must first hear evidence that the requirement is suitable and enforceable (section D1).
The person must keep in touch with the supervisor as told and must tell them about any change of address. The supervisor reports back to the applicant on whether the person has complied.
Source: legislation.gov.uk, Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Part A1; Home Office ASB powers statutory guidance (revised October 2026), section 2.1. Checked 30 October 2026.
Can a Respect Order exclude someone from their own home?
Yes, but only in limited cases: under section C1, a Respect Order can bar someone from the place where they normally live only if the applicant is the council, the chief officer of police for the area, or the housing provider that owns or manages the home, and the court finds that the behaviour involved violence or threats of violence, or that there is a significant risk of harm to other people.
This matters for neighbours and housemates. If the problem comes from inside the same building, tell your landlord as well as the council and police, because only certain applicants can ask for an exclusion. If the person causing harm is a partner or family member, a domestic abuse order may fit better: our guide to which protection order does what compares them.
How is a Respect Order made?
A Respect Order is made by a civil court, normally the county court, after an application by a listed body such as the council, the police or a housing provider, under sections A1 and B1 of the 2014 Act (England and Wales, since 26 October 2026). Members of the public cannot apply, but their evidence is often what an application is built on.
1. Reports and evidence
2. Risk assessment
3. Telling the right people
4. Court hearing
5. Order and supervision
Can a Respect Order be made without the person knowing?
Yes, at first: under section E1 an application can be made without notice to the person, and the court can then make an interim Respect Order, adjourn without one, or dismiss the application. An interim order lasts until the full hearing or a further order (section F1), but an interim order made without notice cannot require the person to take part in particular activities.
Without-notice orders are useful where warning the person could put witnesses at risk. The person then gets the chance to put their side at the full hearing.
How long does a Respect Order last and can it be changed?
A Respect Order lasts either for a period set by the court or until further order, and individual bans or requirements can have their own end dates (section A1(4)–(5) of the 2014 Act, England and Wales, October 2026). There is no fixed minimum or maximum length in Part A1.
Either the applicant or the person under the order can ask the court that made it to vary or discharge it (section G1). A variation can add a new prohibition or requirement or extend a period. If an application to vary or discharge is dismissed, the same party cannot apply again without the court’s consent or the other side’s agreement. Before applying to vary or discharge, the applicant must inform anyone it thinks appropriate.
What happens if someone breaks a Respect Order?
Breaking a Respect Order without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence in England and Wales, punishable by up to 2 years in prison, a fine or both in the Crown Court, under section I1 of the 2014 Act in force since 26 October 2026. The Home Office guidance says the police can arrest someone they suspect of breaching an order, and the breach must be proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Source: legislation.gov.uk, Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, sections H1 and I1; Home Office ASB powers statutory guidance (revised October 2026). Checked 30 October 2026.
What stands out is the contrast with the order itself: the order is made on the civil balance of probabilities, but a breach is a crime that must meet the criminal standard. Keeping a dated record of each breach helps the police and the applicant prove it.
Can you appeal a Respect Order?
Yes. The Home Office guidance (October 2026) says an appeal against a Respect Order made in the county court goes to the High Court, and against one made in the High Court to the Court of Appeal (Civil Division). Sentences for breach are appealed in the usual criminal way: from the magistrates’ court to the Crown Court, and from the Crown Court to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
An applicant can also appeal, without notice, if the court dismisses a without-notice application or refuses an interim order, where court rules allow it (section E1(3)). If you are the person named in an application, get legal advice early: Citizens Advice or a solicitor can tell you whether legal aid is available.
How can victims and witnesses help get a Respect Order?
Victims cannot apply for a Respect Order themselves, but the Home Office guidance (October 2026) tells applicants to contact potential victims and witnesses to understand the harm, so your reports and records directly support an application. These steps help:
If you are frightened of reprisals, you can pass information without giving your name through Crimestoppers. For behaviour aimed at you personally, such as repeated threats or messages, harassment law may give the police more options. Not sure whether to call 999, 101 or 111? Use 999 whenever someone is in immediate danger. To see how much anti-social behaviour police have recorded near a street, you can check an address on safety-app.uk.
Do Respect Orders apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. Respect Orders apply only in England and Wales, from 26 October 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland still use Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) under their own laws, with different applicants, courts, age limits and penalties, as the table shows.
Sources: legislation.gov.uk (2014 Act Part A1); gov.scot guidance on Antisocial Behaviour Orders under the 2004 Act; nidirect “Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs)”. Checked 30 October 2026.
For more on your rights across all four nations, see our hub on your rights and the law.
Frequently asked questions
Only listed bodies can apply, including councils, housing providers, the police, British Transport Police and Transport for London (section B1 of the 2014 Act, England and Wales, from 26 October 2026). Members of the public cannot apply, but their reports and evidence support an application.
A Respect Order lasts for a period the court sets or until further order, and individual terms can have their own end dates. Part A1 of the 2014 Act, in force since 26 October 2026, sets no fixed minimum or maximum length.
Breaking a Respect Order without a reasonable excuse is a crime in England and Wales: up to 2 years in prison, a fine or both in the Crown Court, or up to the magistrates’ court limit (6 months in the Home Office guidance, October 2026). A conditional discharge is not available.
Sources
- legislation.gov.uk: Crime and Policing Act 2026, section 1 (Respect Orders, inserting Part A1 into the 2014 Act)
- legislation.gov.uk: S.I. 2026/960, regulation 4 (commencement on 26 October 2026)
- Home Office: Anti-social behaviour powers, statutory guidance for frontline professionals (revised October 2026, PDF)
- gov.scot: guidance on Antisocial Behaviour Orders (Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004)
- nidirect: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs)
General information, not legal advice. Respect Orders apply in England and Wales only; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different laws. In an emergency, always call 999.
Keep reading
Trouble on your street? Keep your trusted people one tap away
Safety App UK lets you share your live location with a trusted circle, get Safe Zone alerts, and trigger an SOS by button or shake, or automatically in higher-crime zones, sending your live location and live video to your circle. Its live safety map, built from official police data and community reports, shows police stations and Ask for Angela venues and helps you plan safer routes. It does not call the emergency services: in danger, always call 999. Android only, on Google Play: free for 7 days (for accounts that haven’t used a trial; payment method needed), then £2.99 a month or £29.99 a year; cancel any time in Google Play. For ages 16+.