Can parenting orders and fines cut anti-social behaviour?

July 5, 2026 - 22:40

A new push to use parenting orders and steeper fines to tackle anti-social behaviour is raising alarm among child welfare advocates. The measures, which would hold parents legally responsible for their children's actions in public spaces, are being debated as a potential solution to rising complaints about youth disorder. But critics warn that penalizing families through the courts and their wallets could backfire badly.

The core concern is that such penalties will disproportionately hit low-income households. A parenting order might require a mother or father to attend counselling or supervision classes, while a fine could drain resources already stretched thin. Instead of correcting behaviour, these interventions risk pushing families deeper into poverty, creating more stress and instability at home. Research consistently shows that harsh financial penalties on parents do little to change a child's conduct, especially when the root causes are poverty, lack of mental health support, or inadequate housing.

Supporters argue that accountability is needed. They say some parents are simply not doing enough to supervise or guide their children, and that a legal consequence is the only way to force change. Yet opponents counter that the state should be offering support, not punishment. They point to successful programs that pair families with social workers and provide after-school activities, which have reduced anti-social behaviour without resorting to fines or court orders.

The debate comes down to a simple question: are we trying to help families or punish them? If the goal is safer communities, the evidence suggests that investing in youth services and family support works better than sending parents a bill.