What are the new powers?
On 24th August 2025 the UK Government released new sentencing powers enabling courts to impose restrictions on freedom. The new powers will allow for criminals to be barred from concerts, clubs, pubs and sports matches. The courts will also be able to impose driving limits, travel bans and restriction zones, confining criminals to specific areas.
These new powers will toughen community punishments and aim to reduce reoffending, forcing criminals back onto the ‘straight and narrow’.
Those who have been released from prison and are under supervision by the Probation Service will also be subject to these conditions.
The new powers affect all offenders, not just those with a history of substance abuse.
Those that do not comply with such conditions will face either being brought back to court or going to prison, depending on their current sentence.
What are the current laws on bans?
Judges are currently able to give out limited bans for specific crimes. For example, those found guilty of committing crimes inside a football stadium may face a ban on visiting any football stadium, with the aim of preventing further offending behaviour. The changes that will come into force soon will allow bans to be handed out for any offence in any circumstance.
What is the wider context of the changes?
These changes are part of a wider package of reforms intended to cut crime. They are also intended to help to ensure prisons never again run out of places for dangerous offenders.
Already, over 2,400 prison places have opened since mid-2024. The Government has invested £7 billion to create a total of 14,000 new places as the prison population continues to rise.
If you are looking for representation from our Criminal law team, call 01245 358894 or email criminal@gepp.co.uk.
