A chief officer of police may by complaint to a magistrates' court apply for an order under this section (a "foreign travel order") in respect of a person ("the defendant") who resides in his police area or who the chief officer believes is in or is intending to come to his police area if it appears to the chief officer that—
the defendant is a qualifying offender, and
the defendant has since the appropriate date acted in such a way as to give reasonable cause to believe that it is necessary for such an order to be made.
An application under subsection (1) may be made to any magistrates' court whose commission area includes any part of the applicant's police area.
On the application, the court may make a foreign travel order if it is satisfied that—
the defendant is a qualifying offender, and
the defendant's behaviour since the appropriate date makes it necessary to make such an order, for the purpose of protecting children generally or any child from serious sexual harm from the defendant outside the United Kingdom.