MAGISTRATES have agreed to continue a court order giving the police new powers to stop a HIV positive man carrying out threats to infect others.

North Yorkshire police are understood to be one of the first forces in the country to use the new powers which are designed to protect people from serious harm, after they were brought in only four months ago.

An interim order was made last week and today (Monday, July 27), magistrates at Northallerton agreed the order should carry on for a further 28 days after being told the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been detained under the mental health act.

Emma Richards, for the police, said the man who had tested positive for HIV and Hepatitis C, had told mental health workers he attended gay saunas in Leeds and intended to infect other individuals with the disease.

The Interim Sexual Risk Order obtained by the police allows officers to fit a GPS tag to the man so his location can be monitored. Magistrates previously declined other parts of the order which would prevent the man using a vehicle and restrict his access to the internet.

They also refused a stipulation that the man must tell anyone he was about to have sex with that he was HIV positive.

Ms Richards asked that the magistrates leave the interim order in place and adjourn the hearing until August 24 so that the case could be brought back to court.