Breach of SHPO - No Further Action

Case study summary

Our client was arrested on suspicion of breaching his SHPO. We found that the paperwork which had been provided to the client did not have the correct information recorded. The police had no option but the take no further action.

Case study

Our client was arrested for breaching his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). It was alleged that the client had failed to notify the police when he had changed address, on two occasions, and failed to produce his devices for inspection. Both of which were a breach of his order. On search of the clients address, officers also found three credit cards and two bank cards which the client had failed to disclose to them, this was a further breach of his SHPO.

In consultation with the officer in charge of the case, we requested to review the client's order. The officer explained that they believed the SHPO was in place until 2026. However, on further examination, we found that no expiry date had been indicated.

We discussed the allegations with the client and he informed that he was confused about the conditions of his order and that he did not know when it was in place until. We requested that the police make further enquiries into the length of the order and the conditions attached to it.

As the police themselves needed to seek clarification, it would have been unfair to expect our client to know. As such, the case was closed with no further action and the client was provided with an amended SHPO with the correct termination date.