UK considers banning people with criminal records from games & others

People convicted of crimes in England and Wales could face bans from pubs, concerts, and sports events under new sentencing reforms being considered by the government.

The changes would allow courts imposing non-custodial sentences to hand out driving and travel bans and require offenders to remain within specific areas.

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said criminals must have “their freedom restricted” in society if they are serving community sentences, though some have questioned how the measures would be enforced.

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.

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