# Clergy Conduct Measure 2026, Section 35: Restriction order

Extent: E
Status: prospective

(1) A restriction order is an order to empower the relevant officer to restrict the cleric from taking specified action except in so far as the relevant officer has given permission.
(2) The relevant officer may impose a restriction order if satisfied, having considered all the circumstances of the case, that doing so is necessary to secure the proper exercise of the functions of the office and work of a clerk in Holy Orders of the kind concerned.
(3) Before deciding whether to impose a restriction order, the relevant officer must consult such persons as the relevant officer considers appropriate and—
(a) if acting in reliance on section 34(1)(f) in the case of a priest or deacon, the diocesan safeguarding officer (unless the information was provided by the officer);
(b) if acting in reliance on section 34(1)(f) in the case of a bishop or archbishop, the national director of safeguarding (unless the information was provided by the director or a member of the national safeguarding team).
(4) The rules must make provision—
(a) requiring a decision by the relevant officer whether to impose a restriction order, and the reasons for that decision, to be recorded in writing;
(b) the procedure to be followed in serving notice of, or notice of revocation of, a restriction order.
(5) A restriction order has effect for three months beginning with the date of service of the notice by virtue of subsection (4) unless the restriction order is revoked under section 34(3).
(6) The relevant officer may, on the expiry of a restriction order, impose a further restriction order; and subsections (2) to (5) apply to each further restriction order as they applied to the immediately preceding restriction order.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukcm/2026/1/section/35 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/clergy-conduct-measure-2026/section-35
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.