Section 31: Appeals about variation and discharge
This section provides for a right of appeal against the decision of a court to vary a prohibition order or premises order, or to decline to do so. There is also a right of appeal against a refusal to discharge an order. Subsection (1) specifies the appropriate appellate court in the case of an appeal against a decision of a court under section 28.
	In Scotland, a sheriff will hear cases in both a civil capacity (in the case of prohibition orders on application (section 18) and premises orders (section 20)) and in a criminal capacity (in the case of prohibition orders following conviction (section 19)). In civil cases, the Sheriff Appeal Court will be the appellate court to hear any appeals from a sheriff.  Where a sheriff imposes a prohibition order sitting in a criminal capacity in relation to summary criminal proceedings, the Sheriff Appeal Court will be the appropriate appellate court. Where the sheriff imposes a prohibition order sitting in a criminal capacity in relation to indictment proceedings, the appropriate appellate court is the High Court of Justiciary sitting as a court of appeal.
	Subsection (2) confers the right of appeal upon the subject of the prohibition order or premises order in question and on any other person significantly adversely affected by the order. So, for example, if on an application by a chief officer of police a prohibition order was varied so as to add one or more prohibitions, restrictions or requirements, the subject of the order would be able to appeal that decision, but the chief officer would not be able to appeal a decision by the court not to vary the prohibition order. Any appeal must be made within 28 days of the making of the decision (subsection (4)).
	Subsection (5) sets out the powers of the court when determining an appeal. It will be open to the court to revoke the order or to amend its provision.
	Subsection (7) enables an offender to appeal against the variation on conviction of a prohibition order or premises order; the avenue of appeal will be the same as that for an appeal against sentence.