Commentary on Parts Part 2 – Sexual Harm Circumstances where sexual harm prevention order may be made Section 11 – Making of order on dealing with person for offence
73.Section 11 provides that a court may, in certain circumstances, in addition to dealing with the person in any other way, make a SHPO on sentencing the person (subsection (2)).
74.Subsection (1) sets out the three circumstances where the court may make a SHPO against a person on sentencing. The first is on conviction when it deals with a person in respect of an offence listed in schedule 3 of the 2003 Act. The second circumstance is acquittal of such an offence by reason of the special defence set out in section 51A of the 1995 Act (which provides a defence where a person is unable by reason of mental disorder to appreciate the nature or wrongfulness of their conduct). The third circumstance is a finding of unfitness for trial in relation to such an offence under section 53F of that Act (which provides that a person is unfit for trial if it is established on the balance of probabilities that the person is incapable, by reason of a mental or physical condition, of participating effectively in that trial). In relation to the third circumstance there must also be a finding that the person has done the act or made the omission constituting the offence.
75.Subsection (3) provides that the court may make a SHPO at its own instance or on the motion of the prosecutor.
76.Subsection (4) provides the tests for making a SHPO on sentencing. The court must be satisfied that it is necessary to do so for the purpose of protecting the public or any particular members of the public from sexual harm from the person or protecting children or vulnerable adults generally, or any particular children or vulnerable adults, from sexual harm from the person outside the United Kingdom.
77.Subsection (5) provides that before deciding whether to make a SHPO at sentencing the court must, if the person against whom the order would be granted requests it (by virtue of subsection (6)), hold a hearing at which both the person and the prosecutor are entitled to make representations to the court. If the person does not request a hearing the court is nevertheless obliged either to hold a hearing or provide an opportunity for the person and the prosecutor to make written representations.