SHPO & SOR Questions
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For those that have already been to Court, could I please ask about the SHPO and SOR?
What is the difference between the two please? Are they usually given both for the same length of time? Is the SHPO to stop him reoffending so limiting things he can do? And the SOR is that for things like DBS checks etc?
I know that the SHPO has to be signed either at Magistrates if you plead guilty, or on conviction. My OH's Solicitor has said he will have to go straight to the Police station from court to sign something. Is that the SHPO or the SOR, or both? When does the SOR come into force?
I also understand that either Police or Probation (not sure which) will want to visit the house while he is subject to SHPO or SOR? I broke down when OH told me this, as I still have flashbacks to the knock and am struggling to sleep and feel sick whenever the door bell goes, 9 months later. He said that the Solicitor told him that they don't come unannounced though, that they make an appointment. But I've read they can come whenever they want, unannounced? I just want to know what to expect really. If they make an appointment then that's fine, I can make sure I'm not here when they come because I feel sick just thinking about more officials in my house over this.
What is the difference between the two please? Are they usually given both for the same length of time? Is the SHPO to stop him reoffending so limiting things he can do? And the SOR is that for things like DBS checks etc?
I know that the SHPO has to be signed either at Magistrates if you plead guilty, or on conviction. My OH's Solicitor has said he will have to go straight to the Police station from court to sign something. Is that the SHPO or the SOR, or both? When does the SOR come into force?
I also understand that either Police or Probation (not sure which) will want to visit the house while he is subject to SHPO or SOR? I broke down when OH told me this, as I still have flashbacks to the knock and am struggling to sleep and feel sick whenever the door bell goes, 9 months later. He said that the Solicitor told him that they don't come unannounced though, that they make an appointment. But I've read they can come whenever they want, unannounced? I just want to know what to expect really. If they make an appointment then that's fine, I can make sure I'm not here when they come because I feel sick just thinking about more officials in my house over this.
The sor you sign within 3 days of plea if it's a guilty plea if not I think it's once trial ends. There are terms on sor like informing police if spending 12 hours or more with a child. The shpo is conditions of sor my oh are all internet based as it wasn't communication although they did try putting contact restrictions on but we got them taken off. My oh got 5 years sor and shpo which from what I've read is really good as we was told it would be 7-10 years. I was told by police before sentencing that some people get longer one on than the other so say 10 years sor 5 shpo they basically repeat the shpo for another 5 years until it ends. As with the visits we've only had one so far before sentencing but it's unannounced and two people but in plain clothes and plain car. They both seemed ok and oh hasn't had any problems with them so far. We're only a month after sentencing so far
SOR is a notification requirement. It is the same for everyone and he'll have to sign this at the police station and I believe it needs to be signed every year. They will take things like address, telephone numbers, passport detaild and bank cards. If any of these change he needs to update them. The SOR doesn't come with any direct restrictions (other agencies/orgnaisations/countries may impose their own restrictions by saying someone in the SOR cannot use their facilities or visit their country).
SHPO is specific to the person and the offence and are usually restrictions that are legal. These are as described - Restrictions to limit access to tool or to children that could result in offending. These could be for example:
- Not being allowed to visit places where it is likely there will be many children e.g. a playground in a park
- No access to the internet without installed computer monitoring software
- No deleting of internet history
Adherence to the SHPO is monitored throughout the duration I.e. A phone could be checked unannounced
SHPO is specific to the person and the offence and are usually restrictions that are legal. These are as described - Restrictions to limit access to tool or to children that could result in offending. These could be for example:
- Not being allowed to visit places where it is likely there will be many children e.g. a playground in a park
- No access to the internet without installed computer monitoring software
- No deleting of internet history
Adherence to the SHPO is monitored throughout the duration I.e. A phone could be checked unannounced
These links might be helpful
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/concerned-about-your-own-thoughts-or-behaviour/concerned-about-use-of-the-internet/get-the-facts/consequences/being-on-the-sex-offenders-register-sor/
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/concerned-about-your-own-thoughts-or-behaviour/concerned-about-use-of-the-internet/get-the-facts/consequences/being-subject-to-a-sexual-harm-prevention-order-shpo/
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/concerned-about-your-own-thoughts-or-behaviour/concerned-about-use-of-the-internet/get-the-facts/consequences/being-on-the-sex-offenders-register-sor/
https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/concerned-about-your-own-thoughts-or-behaviour/concerned-about-use-of-the-internet/get-the-facts/consequences/being-subject-to-a-sexual-harm-prevention-order-shpo/
We had the plea hearing via zoom on the 17th December and my person signed the register the same day.
The person at the Police Station who took his details told him that he wasn't experienced in doing this but that any mistakes would be down to the police and not reflect on him.
My person also made sure that his solicitor knows that he has signed the register but I'm a bit concerned that he wasn't given any paperwork to prove that he has done this-I really don't trust or believe anything the Police say because from our experience they lie .
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
We haven't heard anything from the visor team but I'm dreading them turning up as I have PTSD and panic at every knock on the door.
The person at the Police Station who took his details told him that he wasn't experienced in doing this but that any mistakes would be down to the police and not reflect on him.
My person also made sure that his solicitor knows that he has signed the register but I'm a bit concerned that he wasn't given any paperwork to prove that he has done this-I really don't trust or believe anything the Police say because from our experience they lie .
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
We haven't heard anything from the visor team but I'm dreading them turning up as I have PTSD and panic at every knock on the door.
Thanks for the replies everyone. It's helped me understand things a little clearer.
Seaside - I know how you feel, it's awful isn't it. Every knock at the door, no matter what time of day or night, I'm expecting it to be something bad. I'm even a wreck when the postman comes. 9 months down the line and I don't know how it's ever going to improve....
Seaside - I know how you feel, it's awful isn't it. Every knock at the door, no matter what time of day or night, I'm expecting it to be something bad. I'm even a wreck when the postman comes. 9 months down the line and I don't know how it's ever going to improve....
My partner pleaded guilty in 2019, but he didn't sign up to the SOR until within three days of the sentencing...
As part of the SOR is to return to the police a year after each time details are updated. It can be hard to remember when my partner needs to re register, so he chooses a date each year to pop in to check details are up to date.
My partner has to give addresses he will or might be at more than seven days in any year, I think this is just in case he goes AWOL.
My partner has a SHPO that prevents him having contact with under 16s, despite his offence being online only. He did try to argue it in court but the solicitor was useless and the judge didn't consider it and said he can appeal later on.
He is on the SOR and SHPO for ten years. He will be looking to ask for the SHPO to be amended (or removed completely, but doubt the courts would agree) to remove the contact restriction.
In the past three years we have had one announced visit and about 7 planned visits and all in plain clothes. Sometimes my partner will go to the police station to save the PO a trip to the house and he is in the area.
As part of the SOR is to return to the police a year after each time details are updated. It can be hard to remember when my partner needs to re register, so he chooses a date each year to pop in to check details are up to date.
My partner has to give addresses he will or might be at more than seven days in any year, I think this is just in case he goes AWOL.
My partner has a SHPO that prevents him having contact with under 16s, despite his offence being online only. He did try to argue it in court but the solicitor was useless and the judge didn't consider it and said he can appeal later on.
He is on the SOR and SHPO for ten years. He will be looking to ask for the SHPO to be amended (or removed completely, but doubt the courts would agree) to remove the contact restriction.
In the past three years we have had one announced visit and about 7 planned visits and all in plain clothes. Sometimes my partner will go to the police station to save the PO a trip to the house and he is in the area.