Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs)

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.

How SVROs are granted 

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.

An SVRO stop and search

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:

• that the search has been carried out under the SVRO power (the grounds for the search)
• the date the SVRO was granted and took effect
• details of the court granted the order

Find out more about what happens during a Stop and Search.

Breach of a SVRO

Someone who has an SVRO can commit an offence if they:

• fail, without a reasonable excuse, to do anything they have to do by the order
• do anything, without a reasonable excuse, that they are not supposed to do by the order
• give the police information they know isn’t true
• tell an officer that they are not subject to an SVRO
• intentionally obstruct an officer from doing something under the power given to them by section 342E of the Sentencing Code

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.