Policing Minister Sarah Jones has visited Newcastle-under-Lyme as new Respect Orders giving authorities additional powers to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour are rolled out.
What’s new: New Respect Orders are being rolled out, giving police, councils and housing associations additional powers to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour.
Why it matters: The orders could be used to restrict repeat offenders from areas including Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, or require them to undertake treatment.
What’s next: Local authorities and police will be able to use the new powers alongside existing measures such as Public Space Protection Orders.
This article is based on reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a BBC funded initiative set up to strengthen reporting on local democratic issues. The Staffordshire Signal has taken part in the scheme since September 2026, which means we're able to draw on a selection of LDRS stories alongside our own.
New powers for tackling anti-social behaviour will make Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre safer, a government minister claims.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones visited Newcastle to talk to community and business leaders about the new Respect Orders, which are being rolled out today.
The new orders will allow councils, the police and housing associations to ban ‘persistent’ adult offenders from certain locations or require them to undertake treatment for problems such as substance abuse – with breaches potentially resulting in imprisonment.
Critics have compared Respect Orders with the old Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, or Asbos, which were introduced under New Labour and were generally seen as a failure.
But Ms Jones claims the new orders will fill a gap in existing ASB powers by giving agencies the power to tackle criminal behaviour from known offenders, while also directing those individuals towards support.
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