Police Reform Act 2002

68 Interim orders for sex offenders: England and Wales

(1) After section 2 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 there shall be inserted—

“2A Interim orders: sex offenders

(1) This section applies where an application for a sex offender order (“the main application”) to a magistrates' court has not been determined.

(2) The applicant may apply by complaint to the court for an interim order, pending the determination of the main application.

(3) The court may make an interim order prohibiting the defendant from doing anything described in the order if it considers that it is appropriate to do so.

(4) An interim order—

(a) shall have effect for the period specified in the order;

(b) shall (if still in force) cease to have effect on the determination of the main application.

(5) While an interim order is in force, Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51) shall have effect as if—

(a) the defendant were subject to the notification requirements of that Part; and

(b) in relation to him, the relevant date (within the meaning of that Part) were the date of service of the order.

(6) The applicant or the defendant may apply by complaint to the court which made the interim order for it to be varied or discharged by a further order.

(7) If without reasonable excuse a person does anything which he is prohibited from doing by an interim order, he is guilty of an offence.

(8) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) above shall be liable—

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

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine, or to both.

(9) Where a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (7) above, it shall not be open to the court by or before which he is convicted to make an order under subsection (1)(b) (conditional discharge) of section 12 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (c. 6) in respect of the offence.”

(2) In section 4(1) of that Act (appeals), for “or sex offender order” there shall be substituted “, a sex offender order or an order under section 2A above”.