UK to ban people with criminal records from football, travel

Currently, courts can impose limited bans—for example, individuals guilty of football-related violence can be barred from stadiums. But the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) plans to allow judges and magistrates to impose restrictions “as a form of punishment for any offence in any circumstance,” meaning offenders could face penalties unrelated to their original crime, with rule-breakers returned to court.

Offenders released under Probation Service supervision could face similar restrictions, along with mandatory drug testing even if they have no history of misuse.

Michael Kill, head of the Night Time Industries Association, warned ministers the scheme “does not unfairly burden venues that are already struggling to survive.”

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“While we fully recognise the intent behind these measures, they cannot simply be imposed on a whim,” he said, adding there must be sufficient resource, planning, and co-operation between the sector and government.

Former Old Bailey Criminal Judge Wendy Joseph KC told BBC Breakfast that while “a number of really good results” could come from the scheme, “it’s not going to work unless its properly funded” and carefully thought through.

“The idea you can keep people out of pubs might be putting a lot of weight on people who run pubs,” she said, adding that if the scheme is introduced, “you’ve got to find a way of catching the people who breach the rules, and punish them.”

The MoJ said the proposals are part of wider reforms aimed at deterring crime and ensuring prisons never run out of spaces for dangerous offenders, describing the changes as a way to “toughen up community punishments.”

Mahmood said widening sentencing options short of prison was part of Labour’s plan to cut crime and make streets safer.