Understanding the new injunction framework
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has restructured the injunction framework previously found under Part 1 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Prior to the 2026 reforms, the Civil Injunction (sometimes referred to as the Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction or ASBI) could be used against anyone aged 10 or over who had engaged in, or threatened to engage in, anti-social behaviour. The injunction could impose prohibitions and positive requirements, but breach was treated as contempt of court rather than a criminal offence.
The 2026 reforms have now separated this power into three distinct orders:
- Respect Orders for adults aged 18 and over engaging in conduct causing harassment, alarm or distress.
- Youth Injunctions for young people aged 10-17.
- Housing Injunctions for adults aged 18 and over engaging in housing-related anti-social behaviour that meets the lower threshold of nuisance or annoyance
This page focuses on Youth Injunctions.
Putting victims first
When deciding whether an injunction is appropriate, agencies should seek to understand the impact the behaviour has had on victims, witnesses and the wider community.
Victim and witness accounts can play an important role in demonstrating the seriousness of the behaviour and supporting an application to the court. A victim-centred approach helps ensure that the harm caused by anti-social behaviour is properly understood and addressed.
What is a Youth Injunction?
The Youth Injunction is the successor to the former civil injunction for under-18s.
It is a civil court order designed to prevent anti-social behaviour by young people aged between 10 and 17, whilst also providing opportunities to address the underlying causes of the behaviour through support and intervention
The purpose of the injunction is to stop anti-social behaviour early, before it escalates and causes further harm to victims and communities.
Who can a Youth Injunction be used against?
A Youth Injunction may be made against a person who is:
- Aged 10 or over; and
- Under the age of 18.
Once a person turns 18, agencies should consider whether a Respect Order or Housing Injunction is the more appropriate intervention.
What is the legal test?
As with the original civil injunction, the court must be satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that:
- The respondent has engaged in, or threatens to engage in, anti-social behaviour; and
- It is just and convenient to grant the injunction to prevent further anti-social behaviour.
Who can apply for a Youth Injunction?
Local authorities
Housing providers
Police forces
Transport for London
British Transport Police
Environment Agency
NHS Counter Fraud Authority
Natural Resources Wales
West Midlands Combined Authority
Transport for Greater Manchester
Other specified government bodies exercising security management functions
Who should I consult about a Youth Injunction?
Before applying for a Youth Injunction, applicants must consult the local Youth Offending Team (YOT).
Applicants should also consider consulting:
- Children’s services
- Education providers
- Youth support services
- Relevant safeguarding agencies
This helps ensure that safeguarding concerns, vulnerabilities and welfare needs have been properly considered before court action is pursued.
Do I need to carry out a risk assessment?
Yes. Before applying for a Youth Injunction, applicants must complete a risk assessment. This is a statutory requirement.
The assessment should consider:
- The risk posed to victims and communities
- Any vulnerabilities of the respondent
- Alternative methods of preventing the behaviour
- Equality and safeguarding considerations
- Any other relevant factors
Risk assessments help ensure that legal intervention is necessary, proportionate and evidence-based.
You can download the example risk assessment for Housing/Youth Injunctions as seen in the Statutory Guidance Appendix below.
Which court hears the Youth Injunction application?
An application for an injunction must be made to a Youth Court in the case of a respondent aged under 18.
How long does a Youth Injunction last?
A Youth Injunction must specify a duration.
The maximum duration is 12 months.
Different prohibitions and requirements may have different time periods where appropriate.
What can a Youth Injunction do?
A Youth Injunction can do two things:
Prohibit behaviour
For example, it can prohibit from:
- Entering a particular area/location
- Associating with named individuals
- Engaging in specified conduct
Require positive action (positive requirements)
For example:
- Attending mentoring sessions
- Participating in youth diversion programmes
- Completing educational interventions
- Working with support services
What happens if a Youth Injunction is breached?
Breach of a Youth Injunction is not automatically a criminal offence.
Instead, breach is dealt with as contempt of court and must be proven to the criminal standard of proof, namely “beyond reasonable doubt”. Breaches of a Youth Injunction are dealt with in the youth court.
Where breach is proven, the youth court may impose:
- A supervision order
- Activity requirements
- Curfew requirements
- In the most serious cases, a detention order of up to three months for young people aged 14-17
FAQs
Yes. Like the Respect Order, it can be reviewed, varied, or discharged by the court, and interim orders can be made in urgent cases.
Yes, where the behaviour meets the legal test. This could include serious bullying, intimidation, harassment or threatening behaviour affecting individuals or the wider community. Practitioners should work with schools and relevant safeguarding partners when considering legal action.
Yes. Although the injunction is made against the young person, parents, guardians and carers are often important partners in helping the young person understand and comply with the order. Agencies should consider engaging families where appropriate.
Yes. The statutory guidance specifically recognises that Youth Injunctions may be used in cases involving gang affiliation or county lines activity, including circumstances where young people are being exploited by others. Conditions can be tailored to reduce risk and support behavioural change.
Useful evidence may include:
- Victim and witness statements
- Incident diaries
- CCTV footage
- Body-worn video
- School reports
- Professional witness evidence
- Police records
- Information from partner agencies
The evidence should demonstrate both the behaviour and its impact on victims or the community.
Need training?
We offer expert-led training on Youth Injunctions and wider ASB powers to help practitioners build confidence and achieve better outcomes for victims.
Read more about our training offers here: