People convicted of crimes in England and Wales could face bans from pubs, concerts, and football matches under new sentencing reforms being considered by the government.
The changes would empower courts to hand out driving and travel bans and require offenders to remain within specific areas as part of non-custodial sentences.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that criminals must have “their freedom restricted” in society if they are serving community sentences. However, concerns have been raised about the enforcement and potential burden on businesses.
Currently, courts can impose limited bans for specific offences, such as barring individuals from stadiums for football-related violence. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to significantly expand this, allowing judges to impose restrictions “as a form of punishment for any offence in any circumstance.” This means penalties could be unrelated to the original crime, with rule-breakers facing a return to court.
Similarly, offenders under Probation Service supervision could face such restrictions and mandatory drug testing, even without a history of misuse.
Industry and Legal Experts Voice Concerns
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, warned the government that the scheme must “not unfairly burden venues that are already struggling to survive.”
“While we fully recognise the intent… they cannot simply be imposed on a whim,” he said, calling for sufficient resources, planning, and cooperation.
Former Old Bailey judge Wendy Joseph KC noted that while the scheme could yield “a number of really good results,” it is “not going to work unless it’s properly funded.” She highlighted the practical challenge: “The idea you can keep people out of pubs might be putting a lot of weight on people who run pubs.”
Part of Broader Sentencing Reforms
The MoJ stated these proposals are part of wider reforms to deter crime and ensure prison space is reserved for dangerous offenders. The changes aim to “toughen up community punishments.”
“When criminals break society’s rules, they must be punished,” Mahmood said. “Those serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there, too.”
The announcement follows plans to impose tighter geographical zones and enhanced tagging on serious sexual and violent offenders upon release.
These new measures and recent policies allowing some prisoners early release after serving a third of their sentence have faced criticism for adding pressure to probation and police services. The MoJ has pledged new technology to reduce administrative burdens and the recruitment of at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers, backed by a £700 million funding boost by 2028.
