Statutory guidance

Serious violence reduction orders

Draft statutory guidance for constables, chief officers of police and the Chief Constable of British Transport Police Force.

Documents

Serious violence reduction orders: draft statutory guidance (accessible)

Serious violence reduction orders: draft statutory guidance

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Serious violence reduction orders: draft statutory guidance (Welsh accessible)

Serious violence reduction orders: draft statutory guidance (Welsh)

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Serious violence reduction orders (SVROs) are a civil order made in respect of an offender convicted of an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon.

The order allows the police to detain a person subject to an SVRO, provided they are in a public place, and search them for bladed articles or offensive weapons.

This draft guidance sets out the background on SVROs, police processes, evidential considerations, court procedure and information on using SVROs alongside other orders and interventions.

This draft statutory guidance was laid before both Houses of Parliament on 24 October 2022 for a period of 40 days, during which time either House may have resolved that the draft guidance not be approved.

The final statutory guidance was published on March 30 2023.

Updates to this page

Published 25 October 2022
Last updated 30 March 2023 + show all updates
  1. Link to final statutory guidance added.

  2. Added the Welsh version of the draft statutory guidance.

  3. First published.

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