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Part 2U.K.Notification and orders

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1Pt. 2 applied (with modifications) (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), ss. 352(2)(b)(3), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

[F1Sexual offences prevention orders [F2(Scotland and Northern Ireland)]S+N.I.

Textual Amendments

[F3104Sexual offences prevention orders: applications and groundsS+N.I.

(1)A court may make an order under this section in respect of a person (“the defendant”) where any of subsections (2) to (4) applies to the defendant and—

(a)where subsection (4) applies, it is satisfied that the defendant’s behaviour since the appropriate date makes it necessary to make such an order, for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant;

(b)in any other case, it is satisfied that it is necessary to make such an order, for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant.

(2)This subsection applies to the defendant where the court deals with him in respect of an offence listed in Schedule 3 or 5.

(3)This subsection applies to the defendant where the court deals with him in respect of a finding—

(a)that he is not guilty of an offence listed in Schedule 3 or 5 by reason of insanity, or

(b)that he is under a disability and has done the act charged against him in respect of such an offence.

(4)This subsection applies to the defendant where—

(a)an application under subsection (5) has been made to the court in respect of him, and

(b)on the application, it is proved that he is a qualifying offender.

(5)A chief officer of police may by complaint to a magistrates' court apply for an order under this section in respect of a person who resides in his police area or who the chief officer believes is in, or is intending to come to, his police area if it appears to the chief officer that—

(a)the person is a qualifying offender, and

(b)the person has since the appropriate date acted in such a way as to give reasonable cause to believe that it is necessary for such an order to be made.

(6)An application under subsection (5) may be made to any magistrates' court whose commission area includes—

(a)any part of the applicant’s police area, or

(b)any place where it is alleged that the person acted in a way mentioned in subsection (5)(b).]

Textual Amendments

F3105SOPOs: further provision as respects ScotlandS+N.I.

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Textual Amendments

[F3106Section 104: supplementalS+N.I.

(1)In this Part, “sexual offences prevention order” means an order under section 104 or 105.

(2)Subsections (3) to (8) apply for the purposes of section 104.

(3)“Protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant” means protecting the public in the United Kingdom or any particular members of that public from serious physical or psychological harm, caused by the defendant committing one or more offences listed in Schedule 3.

(4)Acts, behaviour, convictions and findings include those occurring before the commencement of this Part.

(5)“Qualifying offender” means a person within subsection (6) or (7).

(6)A person is within this subsection if, whether before or after the commencement of this Part, he—

(a)has been convicted of an offence listed in Schedule 3 (other than at paragraph 60) or in Schedule 5,

(b)has been found not guilty of such an offence by reason of insanity,

(c)has been found to be under a disability and to have done the act charged against him in respect of such an offence, or

(d)in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, has been cautioned in respect of such an offence.

(7)A person is within this subsection if, under the law in force in a country outside the United Kingdom and whether before or after the commencement of this Part—

(a)he has been convicted of a relevant offence (whether or not he has been punished for it),

(b)a court exercising jurisdiction under that law has made in respect of a relevant offence a finding equivalent to a finding that he is not guilty by reason of insanity,

(c)such a court has made in respect of a relevant offence a finding equivalent to a finding that he is under a disability and did the act charged against him in respect of the offence, or

(d)he has been cautioned in respect of a relevant offence.

(8)“Appropriate date”, in relation to a qualifying offender, means the date or (as the case may be) the first date on which he was convicted, found or cautioned as mentioned in subsection (6) or (7).

(9)In subsection (7), “relevant offence” means an act which—

(a)constituted an offence under the law in force in the country concerned, and

(b)would have constituted an offence listed in Schedule 3 (other than at paragraph 60) or in Schedule 5 if it had been done in any part of the United Kingdom.

(10)An act punishable under the law in force in a country outside the United Kingdom constitutes an offence under that law for the purposes of subsection (9), however it is described in that law.

(11)Subject to subsection (12), on an application under section 104(5) the condition in subsection (9)(b) (where relevant) is to be taken as met unless, not later than rules of court may provide, the defendant serves on the applicant a notice—

(a)stating that, on the facts as alleged with respect to the act concerned, the condition is not in his opinion met,

(b)showing his grounds for that opinion, and

(c)requiring the applicant to prove that the condition is met.

(12)The court, if it thinks fit, may permit the defendant to require the applicant to prove that the condition is met without service of a notice under subsection (11).

[F4(13)Subsection (14) applies for the purposes of section 104 and this section [F5in their application in relation to England and Wales or Northern Ireland].

(14)In construing any reference to an offence listed in Schedule 3, any condition subject to which an offence is so listed that relates—

(a)to the way in which the defendant is dealt with in respect of an offence so listed or a relevant finding (as defined by section 132(9)), or

(b)to the age of any person,

is to be disregarded.]]

Textual Amendments

F4S. 106(13)(14) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (14.7.2008) by Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (c. 4), ss. 141(1), 153(7); S.I. 2008/1586, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 44 (subject to Sch. 2)

[F3107SOPOs: effectS+N.I.

(1)A sexual offences prevention order—

(a)prohibits the defendant from doing anything described in the order [F6or requires the defendant to do anything described in the order (or both)], and

(b)has effect for a fixed period (not less than 5 years) specified in the order or until further order.

(2)The only prohibitions [F7or requirements] that may be included in the order are those necessary for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant.

(3)Where—

(a)an order is made in respect of a defendant who was a relevant offender immediately before the making of the order, and

(b)the defendant would (apart from this subsection [F8and sections 88F and 88G]) cease to be subject to the notification requirements of this Part while the order (as renewed from time to time) has effect,

the defendant remains subject to the notification requirements.

[F9(3A)Where—

(a)a sexual offences prevention order is in effect in relation to a relevant sex offender (within the meaning of section 88A); and

(b)by virtue of section 88F or 88G the relevant sex offender ceases to be subject to the notification requirements of this Part,

the sexual offences prevention order ceases to have effect.

(3B)Subsection (3A) applies to the orders mentioned in section 108(8)(b) and (c) as it applies to sexual offences prevention orders.]

(4)Where an order is made in respect of a defendant who was not a relevant offender immediately before the making of the order—

(a)the order causes the defendant to become subject to the notification requirements of this Part from the making of the order until the order (as renewed from time to time) ceases to have effect, and

(b)this Part applies to the defendant, subject to the modification set out in subsection (5).

(5)The “relevant date” is the date of service of the order.

(6)Where a court makes a sexual offences prevention order in relation to a person already subject to such an order (whether made by that court or another), the earlier order ceases to have effect.

(7)Section 106(3) applies for the purposes of this section and section 108.]

Textual Amendments

[F3108SOPOs: variations, renewals and dischargesS+N.I.

(1)A person within subsection (2) may apply to the appropriate court for an order varying, renewing or discharging a sexual offences prevention order.

(2)The persons are—

(a)the defendant;

(b)the chief officer of police for the area in which the defendant resides;

(c)a chief officer of police who believes that the defendant is in, or is intending to come to, his police area;

(d)where the order was made on an application under section 104(5), the chief officer of police who made the application.

(3)An application under subsection (1) may be made—

(a)where the appropriate court is the Crown Court, in accordance with rules of court;

(b)in any other case, by complaint.

(4)Subject to subsections (5) and (6), on the application the court, after hearing the person making the application and (if they wish to be heard) the other persons mentioned in subsection (2), may make any order, varying, renewing or discharging the sexual offences prevention order, that the court considers appropriate.

(5)An order may be renewed, or varied so as to impose additional prohibitions [F10or requirements] on the defendant, only if it is necessary to do so for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from serious sexual harm from the defendant (and any renewed or varied order may contain only such prohibitions [F10or requirements] as are necessary for this purpose).

(6)The court must not discharge an order before the end of 5 years beginning with the day on which the order was made, without the consent of the defendant and—

(a)where the application is made by a chief officer of police, that chief officer, or

(b)in any other case, the chief officer of police for the area in which the defendant resides.

(7)In this section “the appropriate court” means—

(a)where the Crown Court or the Court of Appeal made the sexual offences prevention order, the Crown Court;

(b)where a magistrates' court made the order, that court, a magistrates' court for the area in which the defendant resides or, where the application is made by a chief officer of police, any magistrates' court whose commission area includes any part of the chief officer’s police area;

(c)where a youth court made the order, that court, a youth court for the area in which the defendant resides or, where the application is made by a chief officer of police, any youth court whose commission area includes any part of the chief officer’s police area.

(8)This section applies to orders under—

(a)section 5A of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51) (restraining orders),

(b)section F11... 20 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37) (sex offender orders made in F11... Scotland), and

(c)Article 6 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2839 (N.I. 20)) (sex offender orders made in Northern Ireland),

as it applies to sexual offences prevention orders.]

Textual Amendments

[F3109Interim SOPOsS+N.I.

(1)This section applies where an application under section 104(5) or 105(1) (“the main application”) has not been determined.

(2)An application for an order under this section (“an interim sexual offences prevention order”)—

(a)may be made by the complaint by which the main application is made, or

(b)if the main application has been made, may be made by the person who has made that application, by complaint to the court to which that application has been made.

(3)The court may, if it considers it just to do so, make an interim sexual offences prevention order, prohibiting the defendant from doing anything described in the order [F12or requiring the defendant to do anything described in the order (or both)].

(4)Such an order—

(a)has effect only for a fixed period, specified in the order;

(b)ceases to have effect, if it has not already done so, on the determination of the main application.

(5)[F13Section [F14107(3)] [F14107(2)]] [F13Section 107(2)] to (5) apply to an interim sexual offences prevention order as if references to an order were references to such an order, and with the omission of “as renewed from time to time” in both places.

(6)The applicant or the defendant may by complaint apply to the court that made the interim sexual offences prevention order for the order to be varied, renewed or discharged.

(7)Subsection (6) applies to orders under—

(a)section F15... 20(4)(a) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37) (interim orders made in F15... Scotland), and

(b)Article 6A of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2839 (N.I. 20)) (interim orders made in Northern Ireland),

as it applies to interim sexual offences prevention orders.]

Textual Amendments

F17110[F16Appeals in relation to SOPOs and interim SOPOs: Northern Ireland]N.I.

(1)A defendant may appeal against the making of a sexual offences prevention order—

(a)where section 104(2) applied to him, as if the order were a sentence passed on him for the offence;

(b)where section 104(3) (but not section 104(2)) applied to him, as if he had been convicted of the offence and the order were a sentence passed on him for that offence;

(c)where the order was made on an application under section 104(5), to [F18a county court].

(2)A defendant may appeal to [F19a county court] against the making of an interim sexual offences prevention order.

(3)A defendant may appeal against the making of an order under section 108, or the refusal to make such an order—

(a)where the application for such an order was made to the Crown Court, to the Court of Appeal;

(b)in any other case, to [F20a county court].

(4)On an appeal under subsection (1)(c), (2) or (3)(b), [F21the county court] may make such orders as may be necessary to give effect to its determination of the appeal, and may also make such incidental or consequential orders as appear to it to be just.

[F22(5)Any order made by a county court on an appeal under subsection (1)(c) or (2) (other than an order directing that an application be re-heard by a court of summary jurisdiction) is for the purposes of section 108(7) or 109(6) (respectively) to be treated as if it were an order of the court from which the appeal was brought (and not an order of the county court).]

Textual Amendments

F17S. 110: by Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 22), ss. 39(1)(b), 45(2)(3) (with s. 44); S.S.I. 2023/51, reg. 2 (with reg. 3), it is provided (S.) (31.3.2023) that s. 110 is repealed. [Editorial note: the purported repeal cannot be applied because the affected provision extends to Northern Ireland only since 8.3.2015 and no longer extends to Scotland.]

F23111Appeals in relation to SOPOs and interim SOPOs: ScotlandS+N.I.

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Textual Amendments

F24111ASOPO and interim SOPO requirements: ScotlandS

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Textual Amendments

F25112Sections 104 and 106 to 109: ScotlandS+N.I.

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Textual Amendments

[F27113Offence: breach of SOPO or interim SOPO [F26etc] S+N.I.

(1)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he does anything which he is prohibited from doing by—

(a)a sexual offences prevention order;

(b)an interim sexual offences prevention order;

(c)an order under section 5A of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51) (restraining orders);

(d)an order under section F28... 20 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37) (sex offender orders and interim orders made F28... in Scotland);

(e)an order under Article 6 or 6A of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2839 (N.I. 20)) (sex offender orders and interim orders made in Northern Ireland).

[F29(1ZA)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, the person—

(a)contravenes a prohibition imposed by—

(i)a sexual harm prevention order,

(ii)an order under Chapter 2 of Part 11 of the Sentencing Code (sexual harm prevention order on conviction), or

(iii)an interim sexual harm prevention order,

other than a prohibition on foreign travel, or

(b)fails to comply with a requirement imposed by—

(i)a sexual harm prevention order,

(ii)an order under Chapter 2 of Part 11 of the Sentencing Code (sexual harm prevention order on conviction), or

(iii)an interim sexual harm prevention order.]

[F30(1ZB)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, the person—

(a)contravenes a prohibition imposed by a relevant Scottish order other than a prohibition on foreign travel, or

(b)fails to comply with a requirement imposed by a relevant Scottish order.

(1ZC)In subsection (1ZB)—

[F31(1A)A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, he fails to do anything which he is required to do by a sexual offences prevention order or an interim sexual offences prevention order.]

(2)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;

(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.

(3)Where a person is convicted of an offence under this section, it is not open to the court by or before which he is convicted to make, in respect of the offence, an order for conditional discharge or, in Scotland, a [F32community payback order].]]

Textual Amendments