As many already know, earlier this year I was successful in discharging my SHPO. Upon leaving the court room I spoke with my barrister and asked him regarding visits made by PPU which he confirmed would no longer take place.

I contacted the offender manager yesterday as a college I was applying to for a course (due to them having my information previously), asked me to contact him to confirm if the SOR restricts me from entering college grounds. I spoke with the officer about the college and said he would pop over to pay me a visit some time in the week.
He showed up this morning waking me up, and basically conducted a visit like he has previously. I refused access to my devices because that is now my right, but he then stated "this is why we did not want the SHPO to end". He proceeded to ask me the same usual questions going further asking me to provide IMEI numbers to my phone which he should already have..
He asked for permission to look around which I said yes too, as it was only a visual inspection to confirm no one else was here. Then basically threatened me saying "Its just easier letting us as it would then mean getting warrants to let us looked around". Then he asked me about wearing ankle monitors in which he said was "optional", Of course I refused.

So my question is, should the PPU be even conducting visits with out a SHPO? or does being on the SOR still give them access to enter my property, if I allowed it? I have contacted the same solicitor who handled my discharge of the SHPO but waiting on a call back.

Any one else still getting visits even with out a SHPO?

The home visits come from being on the SOR, so they can still ask the same old questions. It's the other stuff that stopped, such as monitoring your devices, which is now at your discretion. As with any area of human contact, people with a sense of entitlement who are used to getting their own way will probably reach for whatever tactics they know in order to get what they want.... Ankle monitors would need a court order, not a warrant, and they're normally imposed when you're sentenced. If you're letting them in when they call for a home visit, they would probably struggle to justify any sort of warrant to enter or search your home.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

Comments like "this is why we didn't want the SHPO to end" and randomly bringing up ankle monitors, sound particularly infuriating.
I got a new ppu, my 4th with this force, and I got the whole "we have software to check if anything's been deleted now". It's these veiled threats which are so tiresome.
Do remember you're now unspent though, your conviction is officially in the past, that's the huge freedom I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for. So do try and brush off these unhelpful inconveniences for the last few years, which is easier said than done.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

There can be a difference between the conviction becoming spent and being "in the clear". While someone is on the SOR, the police retain the right to insist on disclosure to an employer, which they would follow up by a call or visit to check. That's the sort of thing I would expect from a someone who is telling themself you've "beaten them this time". It's nothing of the sort, but it's almost certainly how they would see it. At least spent convictions aren't relevant for insurance in the UK, so there's that to enjoy.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

I just do not understand why the Barrister told me the visits would stop, as I had always assumed visits were only done due to having a SHPO.
Hopefully the solicitor will call tomorrow to confirm all this, I will be informing them of what was said. I wish I had recorded the conversation but it slipped my mind having just woke up.

Hi
In regard to the barrister's comments I feel they will say most things if it leaves you in awe of them!
Also the Police authorities are just that - the authority! I am not saying all of them but in my own personal experience, not an insignificant proportion do/have said one thing then said/wrote something else in reports.

I am told this is because they want to maintain a sort of "stress level" over us to see what we do i.e. re-offend.

I discharged my SOPO in early '23 but on the SOR indef. Since then I have had only one visit which was undertaken in the same manner as previously except: they asked if they could check my computer but for the 1st time using some software to check it. I challenged them and stated they could not install anything especially as I have and not had any IT conditions. I also had to sign a form which i am still waiting for a copy of.

Yes, they asked the same old questions about "satisfying" oneself; for which I replied "doesn't everyone?" I stress that is not my being challenging to them, but my wanting to prompt a discussion on why the question is necessary?
In the end the Authorities know that not many ex-so's have the capital to continually pay solicitors and also that if we did, by the time any action had occurred the desired result would of already been achieved. Plus gain possible support for any restrictions they are wishing to impose, again!

Remember they are aware of the influence they have at removing conditions / requirements and that they are not above the Law! But, they have more power than ourselves in the manner of influencing the use of the Law. I am not saying we should lie to anyone or question but I am saying the manner we hold and behave should be that of an individual who accepts their mistake and wants to move on as a better individual no matter how we are challenged.

Have you not heard the common reply when an "authority is shown to be wrong" - "we are sorry and lessons have been learned!" 

Is it not strange how an SO is chastised as "being in denial of the consequences of their actions" when an SO says that!

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.

Sure, I wasn't inferring being in the clear, but from my experience, being unspent is more debilitating than anything else.
Annual forms and visits are par for the course but disclosure while being unspent for such long periods of time because of an order is excruciating and I would argue is completely unfair.
Imho, Unlock were right to argue that orders shouldn't keep you unspent. Conservative government at the time disagreed.

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Fighting or Accepting - its difficult to know which is right and when.

Hi

Did your barrister ever give you a reply?

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.

I have made multiple phone calls, promised with call backs. But so far I have had no response or opportunity to put my questions forward.

I will have to resort to emailing the solicitor and hope she actually responds

Hi
I wish you all the success and hope its not one were if you do not have a "running tab" or awkward question they ignore you .

Fingers crossed

Society suggests I must let go of all my expectations but I disagree, as whilst I have a voice, I have hope.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope is for tomorrow else what is left if you remove a mans hope.
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This forum supports these words, thank you Unlock and your contributors.