99AA—Paedophile restraining orders
(a1) An application
for a restraining order under this section may be made to the Magistrates
Court by a police officer.
(1) On the hearing of
an application under this section, the Magistrates Court may make a
restraining order against the defendant if—
(a) the
defendant—
(i)
is required to comply with the reporting obligations
imposed by Part 3 of the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act 2006 ;
or
(ii)
has been found—
(A) loitering near children; or
(B) using the internet to communicate with
children or persons whom the defendant believed to be children (other than
children or persons with whom the defendant has some good reason to
communicate),
on at least 2 occasions and there is reason to think that the defendant may,
unless restrained, again so loiter or so use the internet; and
(c) the
Magistrates Court is satisfied that the making of the order is appropriate in
the circumstances.
(2) A
restraining order under this section may restrain the defendant from 1 or more
of the following:
(a)
loitering—
(i)
near children at or in the vicinity of a specified place
or class of places or in specified circumstances; or
(ii)
near children in any circumstances;
(b)
using the internet or using the internet in a manner specified in the order;
(c)
owning, possessing or using a computer or other device that is capable of
being used to gain access to the internet.
(3) In considering
whether or not to make a restraining order under this section and in
considering the terms of the restraining order, the Magistrates Court must
have regard to the following:
(a)
whether the defendant's behaviour has aroused, or may arouse, reasonable
apprehension or fear in a child or other person;
(b)
whether there is reason to think that the defendant may, unless restrained,
commit a sexual offence against a child or otherwise act inappropriately in
relation to a child;
(c) the
prior criminal record (if any) of the defendant;
(d) any
evidence of sexual dysfunction suffered by the defendant;
(e) any
apparent pattern in the defendant's behaviour, any apparent connection between
the defendant's behaviour and the presence of children and any apparent
justification for the defendant's behaviour;
(ea) any
apparent pattern in the defendant's use of the internet (if any) to contact
children;
(f) any
other matter that, in the circumstances of the case, the Magistrates Court
considers relevant.
(4) For the purposes
of this section, a defendant "loiters near children if the defendant loiters,
without reasonable excuse, at or in the vicinity of a school, public toilet or
place at which children are regularly present, whether or not children are
actually present at the school, public toilet or place.