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A Serious Violence Reduction Order (SVRO) is a civil order that can be placed on someone who has been convicted of an offence that involved a bladed item or offensive weapon.
Someone who has an SVRO can be stopped in public spaces by the police and searched to find out if they’re carrying a bladed item or offensive weapon.
The police can request that a court grant an SVRO. They need to provide evidence to the court to explain why an order is required.
SVROs are issued for a fixed period of time. The court will decide how long, but they’re issued for a minimum of six months and maximum of two years.
If someone is stopped in public by the police so they can be searched, the officer will ask them to confirm their identity and if they have an SVRO.
If you have an SVRO you do need to tell the officer. Not telling them is an offence.
An SVRO only applies to a person and not to a vehicle, they also do not apply to anyone who is with the person who has the SVRO.
SVRO Stop and Searches must be recorded on the officer’s bodycam.
The officer will record:
Find out more about what happens during a Stop and Search.
Someone who has an SVRO can commit an offence if they:
Breaching an SVRO is an offence and means you can be arrested.
Breaches carry specific penalties and if there are repeat offences involving a bladed item or offensive weapon there could be a custodial sentence.