Criminal Behaviour Orders - Annex G
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance covers the principles and legal considerations for prosecuting Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs), emphasizing the necessity of linking prohibitions to the offender's anti-social behaviour. It outlines criteria for drafting effective orders and cautions against using them to simply increase sentences for offenders. The guidance also references relevant case law to support its principles.
Key points
- Prohibitions must link directly to anti-social behaviour.
- Terms should be precise and clear to ensure understanding.
- Prohibitions should not be generic or mirror criminal offences.
- An order should not merely increase the maximum sentence available.
- Circumstances for suspended prohibitions are limited and must show demonstrable necessity.
- Consideration of how prohibitions assist in preventing further criminal behaviour.
Public-interest factors
- Protecting the public from further anti-social behaviour.
- Ensuring clarity for offenders regarding prohibitions.
- Maintaining a lawful and proportionate approach to sentencing.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.