Explanatory Notes

Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008

2008 CHAPTER 4

8 May 2008

The Act

Commentary on Sections

Part 7: Violent offender orders
Section 98: Violent offender orders

593.This section provides for a new civil order, a violent offender order (VOO), which is designed to protect the public from the current risk of serious violent harm posed by a qualifying offender (as defined in section 99).

594.Subsection (1)(a) establishes that VOOs may contain such prohibitions, restrictions or conditions authorised by section 102 that the court making the order considers necessary to protect the public from the risk of serious violent harm caused by the offender. Subsection (1)(b) provides that the minimum period of the order is two years and that the maximum period is 5 years (unless the order is renewed or discharged using the powers under section 103).

595.Subsection (2) defines the public as either the general public or any particular member of the public in the United Kingdom. Serious violent harm is defined as being serious physical or psychological harm caused by the offender committing one or more specified offences, as defined in subsection (3).