“Displacing the problem, not resolving it”: Revolving Doors responds to the national rollout of Respect Orders
The Home Office has announced that ‘Respect Orders’ will roll out from October as part of the implementation of the Crime & Policing Act, which came into force earlier this year.
Revolving Doors recognises the impact that persistent antisocial behaviour can have on communities, and that people experiencing anti-social behaviour deserve responses that reduce harm and improve neighbourhoods. However, we are concerned that the introduction of Respect Orders risks drawing more people experiencing multiple disadvantage into the criminal justice system without addressing the underlying issues that drive repeat antisocial behaviour.
Chief Executive Pavan Dhaliwal said:
“Barring people from town centres or public spaces simply displaces the problem rather than resolving it. As we set out in Preventing the Revolving Door, people will simply move on to other areas, losing any support they were accessing and often escalating the very behaviours that Respect Orders are designed to prevent.
Respect Orders rely heavily on breach‑based criminalisation, curfews and exclusion zones. We urge caution around this shift from civil to criminal enforcement, which risks pulling more people with complex needs – mental ill-health, homelessness, addiction, trauma – into courts, prisons and probation, increasing pressure on already stretched services without reducing long‑term harm.
We welcome the intention to tackle root causes via requirements such as drug, alcohol or mental health interventions. But too often, mandated treatment is undermined by long waiting lists, fragmented provision or a lack of specialist support. Respect Orders will only succeed if they form part of a broader strategy that tackles the drivers of repeat antisocial behaviour, not just the symptoms.
Involving people with lived experience in designing interventions that genuinely reduce harm must be part of the solution. Revolving Doors stands ready to work with government, police, councils and communities to ensure responses are fair and effective, and focused on breaking the cycle for good.”
Revolving Doors is the leading organisation working on repeat low-level offending in England and Wales today. Our research demonstrates that evidence-led community alternatives are the most impactful way to tackle the root causes of reoffending and create safer communities.
Find out more in Preventing the Revolving Door.
We our experts in diversion and have long called for a Whole System Approach:
- One joined-up team, one plan: police, probation, courts, NHS, housing and drug/alcohol services working as a single system around the person.
- Fast routes to the basics: housing + treatment + mental health support delivered quickly, before crisis becomes crime.
- Problem-solving justice: courts and probation linked into local services, so supervision comes with real help and clear consequences.
- Trusted support: consistent, trauma-informed practitioners plus peer mentors to keep people engaged and on track.
- Clear grip and accountability: shared data, shared outcomes, and someone locally responsible for delivery—not a handover between agencies.
