Section 22 Time limits
176.Subsections (1) and (2) amend the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to expressly disapply section 127 of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 in relation to applications for civil orders made under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Consequently, the provision confirms that the requirement imposed by section 127, that some evidence provided in support of an application for an order must relate to conduct that has occurred within the six months prior to the application being made, does not apply to these civil orders.
177.Subsection (3) makes an equivalent amendment to exclude Article 78 of the Magistrates’ Court (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 from applying to applications made for these civil orders in Northern Ireland.