JON HANNON AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH POLICE REGISTRATION IN NORWICH
A man named Jon Hannon, aged 36, who is a registered sex offender, has been found to have neglected his legal obligation to inform police of his whereabouts while living rough on the streets of Norwich.Hannon, who was placed on the sex offenders register for life following a conviction in 2014, was required by law to update police about his location regularly.
Despite this, authorities discovered that he had failed to do so during two separate occasions.
The first instance was in April of this year when Hannon was living in a tent, and the second occurred after he was evicted from a homeless hostel.
Norwich Magistrates’ Court was informed that individuals in his situation are mandated to notify police of their whereabouts on a weekly basis, especially when they are homeless.
This requirement is crucial for the safety and monitoring of offenders, as it allows law enforcement to keep track of their movements and ensure community safety.
Prosecutor Sally Harris emphasized the importance of this legal obligation, stating, “You will appreciate how important it is for an offender of this type that the police do know exactly where he is residing.” Hannon pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to comply with the notification requirements.
Additionally, he admitted to breaching a 24-week suspended prison sentence that had been imposed following his conviction for actual bodily harm in March.
The court was also informed that Hannon has a lengthy criminal history, with ten previous convictions encompassing nineteen offences, including other breaches of court orders.
His record underscores a pattern of non-compliance and disregard for legal obligations.
During the hearing, Jonathan Perkins, representing Hannon, explained that the failures to notify police were due to sudden homelessness.
He pointed out that while individuals under notification orders are typically required to sign in annually, those who are homeless are subject to a more frequent, weekly reporting requirement.
Perkins highlighted the difficulties faced by vulnerable individuals living unstable lives, stating, “Normally when a person is subject to notification orders they have annual sign-ins but when a person is homeless they are subject to a weekly notification with the police even if their tent is pitched in the same area as it was the week before.” He further argued that this system places an undue burden on the most vulnerable, who often have no stable residence and are living in precarious conditions.
“So we have the unfortunate situation where those with the most unstable and precarious lives, who are generally the most vulnerable, have a burden that weighs on them 52 times more heavily than those with a place they can call their own,” Perkins said.
In sentencing, Hannon was fined £240 and ordered to pay costs of £166.
Magistrates made it clear that regardless of the difficulties faced by homeless individuals, the legal obligation to report to police remains mandatory.
They stated, “Regardless of it being a burden, you must report to the police whether you like it or not.”
