Criminals in the UK could soon find themselves banned from pubs, concerts, sporting arenas, and even foreign travel, under sweeping new sentencing powers announced by the government.
The measures, unveiled on Sunday as part of the government’s Plan for Change, will give judges the authority to impose restrictions that go beyond traditional punishments.
That could mean offenders being confined to certain areas, hit with driving bans, or blocked from travelling abroad.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the shake-up is designed to make community-based sentences tougher, cut reoffending, and reassure the public that crime has real consequences.
“When criminals break society’s rules, they must be punished,” she said. “Those serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there, too. These new punishments should remind all offenders that, under this Government, crime does not pay.”
Currently, bans are largely limited to football stadiums for match-day offences.
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Under the reforms, judges will be able to impose tailored bans for almost any crime, tightening the net on offenders in everyday life.
The government warned that anyone who breaches the new restrictions risks being dragged back to court or even sent to prison.
The move is part of wider sentencing reforms aimed at preventing prison overcrowding. Since July 2024, over 2,400 new prison places have opened, with £7 billion earmarked to build a total of 14,000 more.
At the same time, probation services are set to receive a major funding boost, with investment expected to rise by £700 million by 2028/29.
Officials say the reforms strike a balance: keeping dangerous offenders behind bars while giving judges new tools to punish and restrict those serving sentences in the community.