Section 56 introduces a new provision under the SCA 2007 for Interim Serious Crime Prevention Orders (ISCPOs). These interim orders provide the High Court with a power to impose immediate restrictions or requirements to protect the public by preventing, restricting or disrupting the person’s involvement in serious crime, pending the determination of a full SCPO application. Section 56 inserts new section 5E, "interim serious crime prevention orders" (ISCPO) into the SCA 2007.
	New section 5E(1)(a) grants the High Court in England and Wales the authority to issue an ISCPO if (a) the application for an SCPO in relation to the individual has been made but not yet been determined.
	New section 5E(1)(b) extends the power to issue ISCPOs to the appropriate court in Scotland and the High Court in Northern Ireland, specifically in cases that are terrorism-related (as defined in Section 8A of the SCA 2007).
	New section 5E(2) stipulates that the court may exercise this power if the court considers it just to do so. It is a matter for the court to determine whether it is just to make an interim order. For example, the court may make an interim order in a case where it is satisfied that this is necessary for the purpose of protecting the public from immediate harm pending the determination of the application for the full SCPO.
	New section 5E(3) allows the court to impose prohibitions, restrictions or requirements deemed appropriate by the court to protect the public by preventing, restricting or disrupting involvement by the person subject to an ISCPO in serious crime. This is the same as for a full SCPO.
	New section 5E(4) incorporates sections 5 to 5D of the SCA 2007 – the express power to impose electronic monitoring - in relation to ISCPOs.
	New section 5E(5) stipulates that an ISCPO may only be made if the application for the interim order is made at the same time as or after the main application for a full SCPO.
	New section 5E(6) and (7) defines the terms ISCPO, main application and the person who is the subject of an ISCPO.
	Subsection 56(3) inserts New section 5F(1), which permits applications for ISCPOs or their variation to be made without notice (ex parte) to the subject if notice would likely to prejudice the intended outcome of the order.
	New section 5F(2) requires the courts to provide the subject of an ‘ex parte’ order an opportunity to make representations about the order as soon as reasonably practicable and at a hearing with notice of the hearing provided to the subject of the order in accordance with court rules.
	New section 5F(3) prohibits the dismissal of an application to vary or discharge an ex parte ISCPO unless the person who makes the application has had a chance to make representations at a hearing of which notice has been given to the person in accordance with rules of court.
	Subsection 56(3) inserts new section 8AA, which restricts applications for ISCPOs to the relevant application authority as defined in section 10(4) of the SCA 2007, in connection with the main application for an SCPO. Therefore, only the relevant applicant authorities can make interim SCPO applications, and they must be linked to an ongoing full SCPO case. This safeguard ensures that ISCPOs are not made in isolation but as part of the full SCPO application process.
	Subsection 56(4) inserts new section 10A(1), which specifies that the subject of an ISCPO is bound by the order (or its variation) if the subject is present or represented at the court at the time the order is made or a notice setting out the terms of the ISCPO is served on the subject (in relation to an order made without notice) as soon as reasonably practicable.
	Subsection 56(3) inserts new section 10A(2) and (3), which requires that delivery of the notice of the ISCPO must be in person unless the court permits alternative methods and served no later than 7 days after the order was made. Law enforcement agencies may enter any premises (if necessary by force) where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person is present, so as to search for the person and serve the order.
	New section 10A(4) stipulates that any method that the court allows can be used if personal service has not been possible.
	New section 10A(5) amends section 16 of the SCA 2007 to specify that an ISPCO must have an end date which is either the date specified in the order or, if earlier, the determination of the main SCPO application.
	New section 10A(6) amends section 25(1) of the SCA 2007 to align ISPCOs with main application SCPOs that the person commits an offence if they fail to comply with an order without reasonable excuse.
Part 3: Prevention of Serious Crime Serious crime prevention orders Section 56: Interim serious crime prevention orders