Explanatory Notes

Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016

2016 asp 22

28 April 2016

Commentary on Parts

Part 2 – Sexual Harm

Chapter 4 – Sexual risk orders
What order does
Section 28 – Content and duration of order

130.Section 28 makes provision about the prohibitions or requirements (or both) that may be contained in a SRO. Each prohibition and requirement in a SRO is for a fixed period. The order ceases to have effect, if it has not already done so, if all of the requirements and prohibitions in the order have ceased to have effect.

131.Subsection (2) provides that those prohibitions or requirements will apply throughout the UK (unless expressly confined to particular localities).

132.Subsection (3) provides that a prohibition or requirement in a SRO must be for a fixed period and last a minimum of two years. There is no maximum period, with the exception of any foreign travel restriction which expires after a maximum of five years, unless renewed (see section 29).

133.Subsection (4) provides that different prohibitions and requirements may have effect for different periods.

134.Subsection (5) sets out the tests for imposing prohibitions and requirements in a SRO, namely that they are necessary to protect the public or any particular members of the public from sexual harm from the person (subsection (5)(a)) or to protect children or vulnerable adults generally, or any particular children or vulnerable adults, from sexual harm from the person outside the UK (subsection (5)(b)).

135.Subsection (7) provides that, if the court makes a SRO in respect of a person already subject to such an order, the earlier order will cease to have effect.