Sussex Police To Trial 'Serious Violence Reduction Order'

Sussex Police will be one of four forces taking part in a two-year trial of a new order aimed at tackling knife crime and serious violence.

The force will trial the introduction of Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) from Wednesday, April 19, alongside Merseyside, Thames Valley and West Midlands.

This new court order will help the force work to save lives and reduce serious violence by seeking to change the behaviour of known knife and weapon carriers.

A court will be able to issue a SVRO providing the person is at least 18 years-old and is convicted of carrying a knife or bladed article.

These orders will help to tackle prolific, high-risk offenders by making it easier for police to search them for weapons.

SVROs will make it easier to search high-risk offenders for weapons and to help protect them from being drawn into further exploitation by criminal gangs.

These are the key elements of an SVRO:

• Police officers will have the power to stop and search a person subject to an order to look for knives or offensive weapons.
• SVROs will apply to offenders aged 18 and over, for a duration of between six months and two years.
• If an offender is in prison, a SVRO can take effect upon release from prison.
• Breach of a SVRO will be a criminal offence punishable by a sentence of up to two years' imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.

The new orders will build on the extensive work which Sussex Police already do to tackle knife crime and serious violence through Op Safety, local policing operations, and partnership work with the Sussex Violence Reduction Partnership.

Force lead for Op Safety, Chief Inspector Simon Yates said:

“Being selected to be one of four forces to pioneer this new scheme is testament to the successful work already being done in Sussex to combat knife crime and serious violence.

“Please be assured, just because Sussex has been selected as one of the force areas to pilot this new scheme, our county remains a safe place to live. Our officers who will be serving the orders will have completed a training package from the College of Policing.

“The pilot will be evaluated using different measures including the use of SVROs, reoffending, and the outcome for offenders who are subject to a SVRO.”

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said:

“I welcome the SVRO pilot in Sussex as an additional instrument for the police to use to identify, challenge and hopefully change behaviours of known knife and weapon carriers.

“Whilst early intervention, successful working with partners and effective support remain vital for those who have been exploited in criminal gangs, additional powers such as allowing police to stop and search prolific, high-risk offenders subject to a SVRO, could help our communities to be safer places for everyone.

“I will be monitoring the effectiveness of this pilot and receiving regular progress updates from the Chief Constable.”

You can find out more information about how Sussex Police is tackling knife crime and serious violence here.