Section 18: Prohibition orders on application
Subsection (1) enables the appropriate court (as defined in subsection (9)) to make a prohibition order against a person if either condition A or B is met and also condition C is met. A person in this context may be an individual over the age of criminal responsibility (subsection (6)) or a body, such as a company.
	The relevant conditions are set out in subsections (2) to (4). Condition A is that the court is satisfied to the civil standard, namely the balance of probabilities, that the respondent has failed to comply with a prohibition notice. Condition B applies where no prohibition notice has been given or such a notice is no longer in force because it has been withdrawn. In such a case the court may make an order if satisfied, to the civil standard, that the respondent is carrying on, or is likely to carry on, a prohibited activity and the court considers that the respondent would fail to comply with a prohibition notice. Condition C, which must be met alongside either condition A or B, requires the court to be satisfied that it is necessary and proportionate to issue the prohibition order in order to prevent the respondent carrying on any prohibited activity.
	Where condition A applies and a court makes a prohibition order, the relevant prohibition notice will cease to have effect (subsection (5)).
	A prohibition order will be of indefinite duration unless discharged (see section 28) save in the case of an order against an individual under the age of 18, in which case the order must be for a maximum period of three years (subsection (7)). This three year limit is absolute and cannot be extended by a court exercising its powers under section 28 or 29 to vary a prohibition order (whatever the age of the individual at the time of the variation).