New powers awarded to local authorities and the police to tackle anti-social behaviour are to come into force.

As part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, Redbridge Council and Redbridge police will be provided with more support and flexibility to address persistent offenders.

The changes, most of which will be introduced on Monday, include the replacement of Anti-social Behaviour Orders with Criminal Behaviour Orders.

These will ban offenders from aggressive begging, making constant verbal abuse to neighbours, visiting specific places and more.

Police officers will also no longer have to receive council authorisation to introduce a dispersal order. Permission will be granted by a police inspector.

Other powers will include a “community trigger,” which will give residents the opportunity to trigger investigations into anti-social behaviour, and a “community remedy,” which will offer victims the chance to decide how low-level crime and anti-social behaviour offenders should be punished out of court.

Cllr Ross Hatfull, cabinet member for community safety and enforcement, said: “Anti-social behaviour has a devastating effect on people’s lives.

“It can leave someone feeling alarmed, harassed or distressed and it must be dealt with robustly.

“We want to ensure any anti-social behaviour is dealt with firmly but fairly and we need to use these new powers as effectively as possible.”