http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/17/section/342ASentencing Act 2020An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to sentencing.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-10-05Expert Participation2026-10-05 FOURTH GROUP OF PARTSFurther powers relating to sentencingPART 11Behaviour ordersCHAPTER 1A<Addition ChangeId="key-040def5338dc58820472aca46a748c49-1658917011339" CommentaryRef="key-040def5338dc58820472aca46a748c49">Serious violence reduction orders</Addition><Addition ChangeId="key-040def5338dc58820472aca46a748c49-1658917011339" CommentaryRef="key-040def5338dc58820472aca46a748c49">Power to make serious violence reduction order</Addition>342A1This section applies where—aa person aged 18 or over (“the offender”) is convicted of an offence which was committed on or after the first appointed day, andbthe prosecution makes an application to the court for a serious violence reduction order to be made in respect of the offender.2Subject to subsection (6), the court may make a serious violence reduction order in respect of the offender if—athe condition in subsection (3) or (4) is met, andbthe condition in subsection (5) is met.3The condition in this subsection is that the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that—aa bladed article or offensive weapon was used by the offender in the commission of the offence, orbthe offender had a bladed article or offensive weapon with them when the offence was committed.4The condition in this subsection is that the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that—aa bladed article or offensive weapon was used by another person in the commission of the offence and the offender knew or ought to have known that this would be the case, orbanother person who committed the offence had a bladed article or offensive weapon with them when the offence was committed and the offender knew or ought to have known that this would be the case.5The condition in this subsection is that the court considers it necessary to make a serious violence reduction order in respect of the offender to—aprotect the public in England and Wales from the risk of harm involving a bladed article or offensive weapon,bprotect any particular members of the public in England and Wales (including the offender) from such risk, orcprevent the offender from committing an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon.6The court may make a serious violence reduction order in respect of the offender only if it—adoes so in addition to dealing with the offender for the offence, andbdoes not make an order for absolute discharge under section 79 in respect of the offence.7For the purpose of deciding whether to make a serious violence reduction order the court may consider evidence led by the prosecution and evidence led by the offender.8It does not matter whether the evidence would have been admissible in the proceedings in which the offender was convicted.9The court may adjourn any proceedings on an application for a serious violence reduction order even after sentencing the offender.10If the offender does not appear for any adjourned proceedings the court may—afurther adjourn the proceedings,bissue a warrant for the offender’s arrest, orchear the proceedings in the offender’s absence.11The court may not act under subsection (10)(b) unless it is satisfied that the offender has had adequate notice of the time and place of the adjourned proceedings.12The court may not act under subsection (10)(c) unless it is satisfied that the offender—ahas had adequate notice of the time and place of the adjourned proceedings, andbhas been informed that if the offender does not appear for those proceedings the court may hear the proceedings in the offender’s absence.13On making a serious violence reduction order the court must in ordinary language explain to the offender—athe effects of the order, andbthe powers that a constable has in respect of the offender under section 342E while the order is in effect.14In subsection (1)(a) “the first appointed day” means the first day appointed by regulations under section 208(1) of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 for the coming into force to any extent of section 165 of that Act.15In subsection (4) the references to the offence include references to any offence arising out of the same facts as the offence.Pt. 11 Ch. 1A inserted (28.4.2022 for specified purposes, 19.4.2023 for the specified purpose and for the specified period of 24 months beginning with that date) by Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (c. 32), ss. 165(1), 166, 208(4)(u); S.I. 2023/387, regs. 1, 5(1)(a)(2) (with regs. 6-8)