Police and local authorities across Wiltshire and Swindon have new powers to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour, including restrictions preventing repeat offenders from entering town centres and shopping areas.
Respect Orders came into force on Monday 26th October under the Crime and Policing Act 2026. They allow courts to impose restrictions on adults aged 18 and over who repeatedly engage in anti-social behaviour.
Breaching an order will be a criminal offence, with offenders potentially facing fines, community sentences or imprisonment.
Courts will also be able to impose requirements intended to address the causes of offending, including substance misuse, in an effort to prevent further incidents.
Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Philip Wilkinson welcomed the new powers but said their success would depend on how effectively they were used.
He said: “Persistent anti-social behaviour can have a significant impact on people's lives. Whether it is businesses repeatedly targeted by the same individuals or residents dealing with ongoing problems in their neighbourhoods, it is important that people have confidence that action will be taken.
“These new powers are a welcome addition to the measures already available to police and local authorities, particularly where individuals continue to offend despite previous interventions.”
Mr Wilkinson said enforcement alone would not solve every problem and that police, councils, businesses and other organisations needed to work together.
He added: “Ultimately, what matters to our communities is whether these measures make a difference to the problems they experience. That must be how we judge their success.”
The measures will sit alongside existing powers, including Criminal Behaviour Orders and Public Spaces Protection Orders.
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is also working with Wiltshire Police, local authorities and businesses to improve responses to retail crime and anti-social behaviour.
In Salisbury, a Business Crime Reduction Partnership was launched in November 2025 to help businesses, police and other agencies share information, identify persistent offenders and coordinate enforcement. Work is under way to explore extending the approach to other parts of Wiltshire and Swindon.
Chief Inspector Steve Jolly, Head of the Wiltshire Police Prevention Hub, said the new orders would help protect communities and support victims.
He said: “These powers are not about criminalising people unnecessarily. They are about protecting communities, supporting victims and ensuring there are meaningful consequences for those who refuse to change their behaviour despite repeated intervention.”
He added that Respect Orders would strengthen efforts to deliver safer town centres and public spaces across Wiltshire and Swindon.
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