Statutory guidance

Serious violence reduction orders (SVROs)

Final statutory guidance for constables, chief officers of police and the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police Force.

Documents

Serious violence reduction orders: statutory guidance version 1

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Serious violence reduction orders: statutory guidance version 1 (Welsh version)

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Details

Serious violence reduction orders (SVROs) are a civil order made in respect of an offender convicted of an offence involving a bladed article or offensive weapon.

The order allows the police to detain a person subject to an SVRO, provided they are in a public place, and search them for bladed articles or offensive weapons.

This guidance sets out the background on SVROs, police processes, evidential considerations, court procedure and information on using SVROs alongside other orders and interventions.

The draft statutory guidance was laid before both Houses of Parliament on 24 October 2022.

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Published 30 March 2023