The powers library49 of 59 Public order and ASB

Requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour

s.50Police Reform Act 2002

A constable in uniform who has reason to believe a person has engaged, or is engaging, in anti-social behaviour can require them to give their name and address.

Requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour · Police Reform Act 2002, s.50Card 49 / 59

When you can use it

The officer is a constable in uniform
s.50(1)The constable has reason to believe the person has engaged, or is engaging, in anti-social behaviour
s.50(1A)(a)Anti-social behaviour means conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person
s.50(1A)(b)Or housing-related anti-social conduct, as defined in s.2 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ignoring s.2(2))

What it allows

Require the person to give their name and address.
Use it for behaviour that is happening now or has already happened.
It does not itself give a power to search, or a power of arrest.

Key definitions

Reason to believe – a higher standard than reasonable suspicion. The officer needs grounds that would lead them to believe the behaviour took place, not just suspect it.
Harassment, alarm or distress – the conduct must have caused it, or be likely to cause it, to any person. Actual harm is not needed if it is likely.
Housing-related anti-social conduct – s.2(1) of the 2014 Act: conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to a person in relation to their occupation of residential premises, or conduct capable of causing housing-related nuisance or annoyance to any person (“housing-related” means relating to the housing management functions of a housing provider or local authority, s.2(3)).

Safeguards

The constable must be in uniform at the time of the requirement.
Good practice (not required by s.50): tell the person what behaviour you are dealing with, and that failing to give details or giving false details is an offence.
Asking questions solely to establish identity does not need a caution (Code C para 10.1). Caution before questioning them about a suspected offence.
If you arrest, Code G and the s.24 PACE necessity test apply. Record your grounds in your notebook or on body-worn video.

Good to know

Offence – s.50(2): failing to give a name and address when required, or giving a false or inaccurate one. Summary only, level 3 fine.
Arrest for the s.50(2) offence needs a s.24(5) reason, such as not knowing the person’s name or address, or doubting what they have given (s.24(5)(a)–(c)).
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 (Sch.1 para 26) substituted s.50(1A) from 26 October 2026, and amended s.2 of the 2014 Act at the same time. The substance is the same: harassment, alarm or distress, or housing-related nuisance or annoyance.
Linked tools include directions excluding a person from an area (s.35, dispersal) and community protection notices (s.43) under the 2014 Act.

Legislation: Police Reform Act 2002, s.50 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Who can use it: A constable in uniform
Last checked: 3 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour: questions people ask

When can the police use requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour?

1. The officer is a constable in uniform 2. The constable has reason to believe the person has engaged, or is engaging, in anti-social behaviour 3. Anti-social behaviour means conduct that has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to any person 4. Or housing-related anti-social conduct, as defined in s.2 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 (ignoring s.2(2))

Who can use requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour?

A constable in uniform.

What law gives the power for requiring name and address for anti-social behaviour?

Police Reform Act 2002, s.50.

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