Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Scotland) Order 2026

UK New Legislation

Published March 26th, 2026

Detected March 25th, 2026

Summary

The Scottish Ministers have issued the Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026, effective March 26, 2026. This order adds 'threatening or abusive behaviour' to the list of offenses eligible for fixed penalty notices and increases the maximum fixed penalty from £40 to £70.

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What changed

The Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026, effective March 26, 2026, amends existing legislation to expand the scope of offenses subject to fixed penalty notices and increase the associated fine amount. Specifically, it adds 'threatening or abusive behaviour' under Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 to the list of offenses for which a constable can issue a fixed penalty notice. Furthermore, the maximum amount of a fixed penalty under the Antisocial Behaviour (Amount of Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2005 is increased from £40 to £70.

This amendment requires law enforcement officers to be aware of the expanded list of offenses for which fixed penalty notices can be issued and to adjust their procedures for issuing these notices. Regulated entities, particularly those involved in public-facing roles or security, should ensure their personnel are aware of the increased penalty amounts and the inclusion of threatening or abusive behaviour as a fixed penalty offense. The changes do not apply to offenses committed before the effective date of March 26, 2026.

What to do next

Update law enforcement procedures to include 'threatening or abusive behaviour' for fixed penalty notices.
Inform relevant personnel of the increased fixed penalty amount from £40 to £70.

Penalties

Fixed penalty increased from £40 to £70.

Source document (simplified)

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format.

Scottish Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 163

ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

The Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026

Made

24th March 2026

Coming into force

26th March 2026

The Scottish Ministers make the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 128(2)(b), 130(1) and 141(2)(b) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004(1) and all other powers enabling them to do so.

In accordance with section 141(4)(a) of that Act, a draft of this instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament(2).

Citation, commencement and interpretation

—(1) This Order may be cited as the Antisocial Behaviour (Fixed Penalty Offences) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026 and comes into force on 26 March 2026.

(2) In this Order—

“ the 2004 Act ” means the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004,

“ the 2005 Order ” means the Antisocial Behaviour (Amount of Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2005(3).

Amendment to the 2004 Act

—(1) Section 128(1) (fixed penalty offences) of the 2004 Act(4) is amended in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) In Part 1 of the table, after the entry for section 52(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (vandalism), insert—

| “Section 38(1) of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10) | Threatening or abusive behaviour”. |

Amendment to the 2005 Order

In article 2 of the 2005 Order (amount of fixed penalty) for “£40” substitute “£70”.

Saving provision

Articles 2 and 3 do not apply in respect of offences committed prior to 26 March 2026.

SIOBHIAN BROWN

Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers

St Andrew's House

Edinburgh

24th March 2026

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes amendments which apply in relation to fixed penalty notices under section 129 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (“ the 2004 Act ”).

Article 2 adds the offence of threatening or abusive behaviour to the list of offences in section 128(1) of the 2004 Act. This means that it will now be possible for a constable to issue a fixed penalty notice for such an offence.

Article 3 amends article 2 of the Antisocial Behaviour (Amount of Fixed Penalty) (Scotland) Order 2005 to increase the level of fine which can be imposed by a fixed penalty notice from £40 to £70.

Article 4 provides that the changes being made by articles 2 and 3 do not apply in respect of offences committed before 26 March 2026.

(1) 2004 asp 8.

(2) By virtue of section 141(4)(a) of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (“ the 2004 Act ”), as modified by paragraph 5 of schedule 3 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10) (“ the 2010 Act ”), orders made under section 128(2) of the 2004 Act are subject to the affirmative procedure. By virtue of section 141(3) of the 2004 Act, as modified by paragraph 2 of schedule 3 of the 2010 Act, orders made under section 130(1) of the 2004 Act are subject to the negative procedure. These powers are being exercised together to make this Order by virtue of section 33(2) of the 2010 Act, section 33(3) of which makes this Order subject to the affirmative procedure.

(3) S.S.I. 2005/110.

(4) Section 128(1) was relevantly amended by S.S.I. 2009/248.