The government confirmed that several anti-social behaviour measures will take effect across England and Wales on 26 October 2026 under The Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 3 and Saving Provisions) Regulations 2026, including Respect Orders, youth and housing injunctions, expanded power durations, fixed penalty reforms, and extended closure powers for registered social housing providers.

The Commencement Regulations include detailed procedural updates for Respect Orders, with CPR Part 65 amendments and Practice Directions, and the 196th Practice Direction, with new court forms to be published later.

The regime will split into youth injunctions for ages 10-17 and housing injunctions for adults 18+ facing housing-related anti-social behaviour, enabling social landlords to seek housing-related injunctions.

A Breakfast Roundtable is scheduled for 8 October 2026, and Devonshires will provide support packages covering Closure Orders, Respect Orders/Civil Injunctions, and comprehensive coverage of the Act’s provisions.

Closure powers are extended to registered social housing providers, allowing them to issue closure notices or orders at properties they own or manage to address nuisance or disorder.

Housing sector outlook: Social landlords should review policies and enforcement strategies in light of the new regime, with further guidance, forms, and a forthcoming cuckooing provisions commencement date expected.

Respect Orders introduce a new civil remedy for adults 18+ who engage in or threaten anti-social behaviour, with a dedicated court procedure under Civil Procedure amendments and Practice Directions to begin on 26 October 2026 and two new court forms on the way.

There are extended durations for anti-social behaviour powers, increasing maximum durations for dispersal directions to 72 hours, certain closure notices to 48 or 72 hours, and temporary closure orders to 72 hours.