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Knife crime prevention order vs criminal behaviour order
KCPO (knife crime prevention order) versus CBO (criminal behaviour order)
KCPOs and CBOs are both civil orders that impose restrictions on individuals to prevent future offending, but they target different behaviours, have different thresholds, and are governed by different legislation. Both carry criminal penalties for breach.
Side by side
| KCPO (knife crime prevention order) | CBO (criminal behaviour order) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Offensive Weapons Act 2019, sections 14 to 30 (commenced 2023 following pilot in London). Part of a targeted response to knife crime | Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, sections 22 to 33. Replaced the ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) |
| Who can apply | The police, by complaint to the magistrates' court. A KCPO on conviction may also be made by any criminal court when sentencing for a relevant offence | The prosecution may apply to the court at the point of conviction. The court may also make a CBO of its own motion. Standalone CBOs are not available |
| Age threshold | Available from age 12. Can be imposed on children and young people as well as adults | Available from age 10 (the age of criminal responsibility). However, CBOs for under-18s require special consideration of welfare |
| Duration | Minimum 6 months, maximum 2 years for under-18s. For adults: minimum 6 months, no statutory maximum | Minimum 2 years (1 year for under-18s). No statutory maximum for adults. Fixed or indefinite duration |
| Breach | Breach is a criminal offence: maximum 2 years' imprisonment for adults, a detention and training order for under-18s | Breach is a criminal offence: maximum 5 years' imprisonment on indictment. Summary conviction: up to 6 months' imprisonment |
| Conditions | Prohibitions (e.g. not to carry a knife in public, not to associate with named individuals) and/or positive requirements (e.g. to attend mentoring, education, or intervention programmes) | Prohibitions (e.g. not to enter certain areas, not to contact named persons) and/or positive requirements (e.g. attendance at programmes). Must be proportionate and necessary |
| Trigger | On conviction: the court may impose a KCPO when sentencing for a relevant knife offence. Without conviction: the police may apply if a person has carried a bladed article on at least two occasions in the preceding two years | Made only on conviction. The court must be satisfied that the offender has engaged in behaviour that caused or was likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, and the order will help prevent such behaviour |
| Review | KCPOs may be varied, renewed, or discharged on application by the subject or the police. Review is built into the statutory framework | Either party may apply to the court to vary or discharge the CBO. The court may review on its own initiative |
Which applies
KCPOs are specifically designed to tackle knife carrying and are available without a prior conviction, which distinguishes them from CBOs. A CBO can only be made following a criminal conviction. Both orders can include positive requirements such as mentoring or education programmes, not just prohibitions. Breach of either order is a serious criminal offence.
Last updated 24 September 2026