Commentary on Parts Part 2 – Sexual Harm What order does Section 17 – Prohibitions on foreign travel
97.Section 17 makes provision about prohibitions on foreign travel in SHPOs.
98.Subsection (1) provides that the duration of the foreign travel prohibition may not exceed 5 years. Section 16(3) provides that SHPO prohibitions and requirements may not have effect for less than 5 years. Section 16(5) makes the rule in section 16(3) subject to section 17(1). As a result, foreign travel prohibitions will always apply for a period of 5 years exactly.
99.Subsection (2) provides that the order may prohibit the subject from travelling to a country outside the UK identified in the order; or from travelling to any country outside the UK other than a country identified in the order (for example, this may be needed where the offender is banned from travelling anywhere in the world other than to a named country which he/she may need to visit for family reasons); or from travelling to any country outside the UK (where the offender is such a risk to children or vulnerable adults that a universal ban is required).
100.Subsection (3) determines that a prohibition on foreign travel may be extended for further fixed periods of no more than five years each time (following an application under section 20).
101.Subsection (4) provides that a SHPO with a prohibition from travelling to any country outside the UK must include a requirement that the person surrenders their passports at a police station specified in the order.
102.Subsection (6) requires the police to return any surrendered passport as soon as reasonably practicable after the relevant foreign travel prohibition ceases, unless the person subject to the order is subject to an equivalent prohibition specified in another order. Circumstances where this subsection would not apply are provided for at subsection (7) (for example where, in relation to passports issued by another country or by an international organisation, the passport has already been returned to the relevant authority).