From concerts to football matches: offenders face new bans under tougher UK sentencing
Criminals convicted in UK courts could soon be banned from pubs, clubs, concerts and football matches under sweeping new sentencing powers announced by the government.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed on Sunday that judges will be given wider authority to restrict offenders’ freedoms, including travel bans, driving limits and exclusion zones, as part of efforts to toughen community sentences and cut reoffending.
Wider powers for judges
Until now, restrictions such as football banning orders were only available in narrow circumstances — for example, when crimes were committed inside stadiums. Under the new law, judges will be able to impose such bans for any offence, in any setting.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the reforms are part of the government’s Plan for Change to make punishments more effective and keep streets safe.
“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.”
Drug testing expanded
The plans will also expand mandatory drug testing for offenders supervised by the Probation Service after prison release. Unlike current practice, testing will cover all offenders — not just those with a history of substance abuse.
Anyone who breaks their restrictions could be brought back to court or sent back to prison, depending on the terms of their sentence.
Prisons and probation investment
The reforms come amid a major expansion of prison capacity. More than 2,400 new places have opened since July 2024, with £7 billion earmarked to create a total of 14,000 additional spaces.
The Probation Service is also being bolstered with an extra £700 million in funding by 2028/29, alongside recruitment drives that have increased the number of probation officers by 7 per cent in the past year. The government aims to hire a further 1,300 officers this year.
Officials say new technology, including artificial intelligence, will help reduce paperwork and free up probation staff to focus on supervising the most dangerous offenders.
Foreign nationals also affected
Legal experts note that the new powers will apply to anyone convicted in a UK court — including foreign visitors. That means tourists, students or workers who commit offences while in Britain could face bans from venues, events or travel, alongside other sentences.
Part of a wider crackdown
The government argues the changes will ensure punishments cut crime while preventing prisons from being overwhelmed. Critics, however, are likely to question whether restrictions such as pub or match bans will meaningfully deter hardened offenders.
For now, ministers insist the message is clear: those who break the law in Britain will face tighter controls, whether behind bars or in the community.
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