Questions over effectiveness of new Respect Orders

The man responsible for overseeing West Mercia Police has cast doubt on the effectiveness of new Respect Orders.

They were introduced by the Labour government on Monday and partly replace the older Anti-social Behaviour Order (Asbo).

But John Campion, the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for West Mercia Police, said they would be a "toothless tiger" without strong deterrents to back them up.

The government said the Respect Orders give the police and local authorities a wider range of punishments to address anti-social behaviour, enabling them to "take stronger enforcement action against relentless adult offenders...".

Punishments for offenders can include bans from town centres, bans on drinking in public areas, unlimited fines, curfews or voluntary work.

Offenders can also be ordered to address the root causes of their behaviour by undertaking drug or alcohol courses.

Breaching the orders is a criminal offence carrying a prison sentence of up to two years.

Rebecca Sutton, from Town Barbers in Market Drayton, said she has complained in the past about anti-social behaviour taking place outside her shop.

She said she took matters into her own hands in 2024 when she taped off a bench outside, suggesting it was regularly being used by people for taking drugs and engaging in sexual activity.

Sutton said: "I was going to close the shop because I was sick and tired of coming into the business."

Since then, she said the police had taken action and this summer had been "blissful" by comparison.

But she was doubtful about the new Respect Orders.

"Unfortunately, if you push them from one space, they get pushed to another space," she said.

She also said it was pointless handing out fines which the offenders could not afford to pay.

John Campion said: "There's a real concern that this doesn't fix the system and I struggle to see the significant improvement that they will deliver."

He accepted the new orders were a "welcome step," and said his chief constable was "bringing more offenders to justice".

But, he said: "It doesn't go far enough, because what happens when somebody breaches these orders put before the court?"

Campion, who was also the PCC during the last Conservative government, said the problem was that the court system was "broken" and the prisons were full.

"The danger is it's a toothless tiger and people like Rebecca expect better," he said.

He added a "whole scale review of our criminal justice system" was needed, as well as a "significant amount of money" to be spent on the problem.

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