Greater Manchester Police say that court orders known as Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) that sre used to target individuals who are repeat demand generators are having a great success in the region
Hundreds of CBOs are active across Greater Manchester, preventing repeat offenders of crimes including shoplifting and ASB from engaging in criminality
They are given to people who have been convicted of an offence with the aim to prevent them engaging in further criminal behaviour.
The offences can range from shoplifting to wider anti-social behaviour.
While a CBO is a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence, and may result in arrest, charges, and punishments including imprisonment, fines, or community service.
In particular, town centre officers can grant dozens to prevent repeat offenders from visiting shopping and leisure hotspots, and arrest them if they breach the conditions
GMP have given four examples of how these work
Jason Wadsworth of Bolton, is banned from entering any retail premises on Brackley Street, Farnworth, as well as a further specified fourteen stores in the Farnworth and Kearsley area. This CBO was put in place due to numerous reports of retail crime.
In addition, he is not allowed to enter any retail premises from which he is banned, and must leave an area when directed to do so by a police officer on PCSO. His CBO expires in January 2028.
Carol Fahy of Wigan, is prohibited from entering or using any bus station in the Greater Manchester area, and as operated by Transport for Greater Manchester.
This order was put in place due to anti-social behaviour reports, and will remain in place until November 2026. Fahy may still use bus stops not within a bus station.
Faisal Iqbal Mohammad of Tameside, has been given an indefinite order – currently preventing him from entering a defined area of Ashton-Under-Lyne town centre until 31 December 2099. This order was made in response to reports of shoplifting, theft, and burglary.
The order allows him to have appointments with official agencies, such as doctors, dentists, and solicitors, on the condition he leaves the centre immediately after.
Kelsey Atwell of Stockport, has a CBO that runs until April 2027, and bans her from entering seventeen different stores in the town – in addition to not being allowed into the town centre.
She breached the CBO in May 2024, and was sent to prison for offences following this.
