Breaching new anti-social behaviour orders will be a criminal offence from next week and can be punishable by up to two years’ jail, the Home Office said.

The new Respect Orders will allow police and councils to take stronger enforcement action, filling a gap in existing anti-social behaviour powers, the Home Office added.

Under tougher new powers coming into force, repeat anti-social behaviour offenders could be banned from town centres, face curfew bans or be ordered to stop drinking in public hotspots including high streets and local parks.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Unchecked, anti-social behaviour blights our communities. But it is not inevitable and I won’t accept it.

“For too long, we have lacked the powers we need to deal with this problem properly. From today, that changes: authorities will be able to take tough action against these offenders.

“This delivers on a commitment we made to the British people in our manifesto.…