Children (Jersey)
Law 2002[1]
A LAW to reform and consolidate the
law relating to children and for connected purposes.
Commencement
[see endnotes]
Part 1
Introductory
1 Interpretation
(1) In this Law, except
where the context otherwise requires –
“appointed foster parent” means a person, appointed by
the Minister, with whom a child in the care of the Minister is placed under
Article 20(1)(a) (the person so appointed not being a person described in
paragraph (2)(a) or (b) of that Article);
“Article 10 order” means any of the orders
mentioned in Article 10(1) and any order varying or discharging such an
order;
“care home service” is construed in accordance with
paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014;
“care order” means an order under Article 24(1)(a)
and (except where express provision to the contrary is made)
includes –
(a) an
interim care order made under Article 30; and
(b) any
order which by or under any enactment has the effect of, or is deemed to be, a
care order for the purposes of this Law,
and any reference to a child who is in the care of the Minister is a
reference to a child who is in the Minister’s care by virtue of a care
order;
“child” means, subject to paragraph 13 of Schedule 1,
a person who has not yet attained the age of majority;
“child assessment order” means an order under Article 36;
“child of the family” in relation to parties to a
marriage or a civil partnership, means –
(a) a
child of both of those parties; and
(b) any
other child, other than a child placed with them as foster parents by the
Minister or a voluntary organization, who has been treated by both of those parties
as a child of their family;
“children’s home” means any home or other
institution under the administration of the Minister for the accommodation,
care and maintenance of children;
“children’s home service” is
construed in accordance with paragraph 7 of Schedule 1
to the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014;
“contact order” means an order requiring the person with
whom a child lives, or is to live, to allow the child to visit or stay with the
person named in the order, or for that person and the child otherwise to have
contact with each other;
“contribution notice” means a notice served on a
contributor under paragraph 7 of Schedule 2;
“contribution order” means an order under paragraph 8 of
Schedule 2;
“contributor” means a person liable to make contribution
to a child’s maintenance under paragraph 6 of Schedule 2;
“court” means the Royal Court;
“emergency protection order” means an order under
Article 37;
“excluded person” means the person in respect of whom an
exclusion requirement is imposed;
“exclusion requirement” means one or more of the
following –
(a) a
provision requiring the excluded person to leave a dwelling house in which he
or she is living with the child in question;
(b) a
provision prohibiting the excluded person from entering a dwelling house in
which that child lives; and
(c) a
provision excluding the excluded person from a defined area in which a dwelling
house in which the child lives is situated;
“family assistance order” means an order under Article 16;
“family proceedings” means proceedings within the
jurisdiction of the Family Division of the Royal Court and specified in Rule
3/1(2) of the Royal Court Rules 2004;
“functions” includes powers and duties;
“guardian” means a guardian appointed under Article 7
but does not mean a tuteur;
“harm” has the meaning assigned by Article 24(6)
and the question of whether harm is significant shall be construed in
accordance with paragraph (7) of that Article;
“holiday” means Good Friday, Christmas Day and any day
which is appointed as a public holiday or bank holiday under Article 2 of
the Public Holidays and Bank
Holidays (Jersey) Law 1951;
“hospital” means any institution for the reception and
treatment of persons suffering from any illness, injury or disability or
requiring convalescence or medical rehabilitation and includes any maternity
home;
“ill-treatment” has the meaning assigned by Article 24(6);
“inquiry officer” means the person inquiring into the
case of a child pursuant to Article 41(2)(d);
“Minister” means the Minister for Children and Families;
“nursing home” has the same meaning as in Article 1A
of the Nursing Homes (Jersey)
Law 1994;
“parent” includes the father of a child whether or not he
was at any time married to the child’s mother and the biological father
of a child where he has been granted parental responsibility under Article 5(2);
“parental responsibility” means all the rights, duties, powers,
responsibilities and authority which the father of a legitimate child had in
relation to the child and the child’s property prior to the commencement
of Part 1, save that rights in respect of custody shall not be exclusive;
“parental responsibility agreement” means an agreement
under Article 5(1)(b);
“prescribed” means prescribed by Rules of Court made
under this Law;
“privately fostered child” has the meaning assigned by
Article 58;
“probation
officer” means a délégué appointed
under Article 7 of the Loi (1937) sur
l’atténuation des peines et sur la mise en liberté
surveillée;
“programme service” has the same meaning as in
section 201 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as extended to Jersey by the Broadcasting
Act 1990 (Jersey) (No. 2) Order 1991);
“prohibited steps order” means an order that no step
which could have been taken by a parent in meeting his or her parental
responsibility for a child, and which is of a kind specified in the order,
shall be taken by any person without the consent of the court;
“recovery order” means an order under Article 45(1);
“registered medical practitioner” has the same meaning
as in Article 1(1) of the Medical Practitioners (Registration) (Jersey) Law
1960;
“relative”, in relation to a child, means a grandparent,
brother, sister, uncle or aunt (whether of the full blood or half blood or by
marriage or civil partnership) or step-parent (whether by marriage or civil partnership);
“residence order” means an order settling the
arrangements to be made as to the person with whom a child is to live;
“responsible person”, in relation to a supervised child
means –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child; and
(b) any
other person with whom the child is still living;
“school” has the same meaning as in the Education (Jersey) Law 1999;
“secure accommodation” means accommodation provided by
the Minister for the purpose of restricting a child’s liberty;
“service”, in relation to any provision made under Part 3,
includes any facility;
“signed”, in relation to any person, includes the making
by that person of his or her mark;
“specific issue order” means an order giving directions
for the purpose of determining a specific question which has arisen, or which
may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a
child;
“supervision order” means an order under Article 24(1)(b)
and (except where express provision to the contrary is made) includes an
interim supervision order made under Article 30;
“supervised child” and “supervisor”, in
relation to a supervision order, mean respectively the child who is (or is to
be) under supervision and the person under whose supervision the child is (or
is to be) by virtue of the order;
“upbringing”, in relation to any child, includes the
care of the child but not the child’s maintenance;
“voluntary home” means any home or other institution
providing care and accommodation for children which is carried on by a
voluntary organisation but does not include –
(a) a
nursing home, mental nursing home or residential care home;
(b) a
school; or
(c) a
hospital or other approved establishment within the meaning given by the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016;
“voluntary organisation” means a body the activities of
which are carried on otherwise than for profit;
“Young Offenders Law” means the Criminal Justice (Young Offenders) (Jersey)
Law 2014.[2]
(2) References in this
Law –
(a) to a
child whose father and mother were married to each other at the time of the child’s
birth include; and
(b) to a
child whose father and mother were not married to each other at the time of the
child’s birth do not include,
a legitimated child within the meaning of the Legitimacy (Jersey) Law 1973, a child who was the subject
of an adoption order under Article 10 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961 or a child otherwise treated
in law as legitimate.
(3) References in this Law
to –
(a) a
person with whom a child lives, or is to live, as the result of a residence
order; or
(b) a
person in whose favour a residence order is in force,
shall be construed as references to the person named in the order as
the person with whom the child is to live.
(4) [3]
(5) In determining the
“ordinary residence” of a child for the purposes of this Law, there
shall be disregarded any period in which the child lives in any
place –
(a) which
is a school or institution;
(b) in
accordance with the requirements of a supervision order under this Law; or
(c) while
the child is being provided with accommodation by or on behalf of the Minister.
(6) Any notice or other
document required under this Law to be served on any person may be served on the
person by being delivered personally to the person, or being sent by post to
the person in a registered letter or by the recorded delivery service at the
person’s proper address.
(7) Any notice or other
document required to be served on a body corporate or a firm shall be duly
served if it is served on the secretary or clerk of that body or a partner of
that firm.
(8) For the purpose of this
Article and of Article 7 of the Interpretation (Jersey) Law 1954 in its application to this
Article, the proper address of a person –
(a) in
the case of a secretary or clerk of a body corporate, shall be that of the
registered or principal office of that body;
(b) in
the case of a partner of a firm, shall be that of the principal office of the
firm; and
(c) in
any other case, shall be the last known address of the person to be served.
1A References
to a child who is looked after by the Minister
In this Law references to a child who is looked after by the Minister
are references to any of the following –
(a) a child in the care of
the Minister;
(b) a child, other than a
child falling within the description in paragraph (c), provided with
accommodation by the Minister for a continuous period of more than 24 hours
in the exercise of the Minister’s functions under any enactment;
(c) a child or young person
within the meaning of the Young Offenders Law who is required to be detained in
custody on remand or following sentence under any provision of that Law, where
the place of custody is –
(i) secure
accommodation,
(ii) a
young offender institution, or
(iii) the
prison,
within the meaning of that Law.[4]
2 Welfare
of the child
(1) When the court
determines any question with respect to –
(a) the
upbringing of a child; or
(b) the
administration of a child’s property or the application of any income
arising from it,
the child’s welfare shall be the court’s paramount
consideration.
(2) In any proceedings in
which any question with respect to the upbringing of a child arises, the
court shall have regard to the general principle that any delay in
determining the question is likely to prejudice the welfare of the child.
(3) In the circumstances
mentioned in paragraph (4), the court shall have regard in particular
to –
(a) the
ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the
light of the child’s age and understanding);
(b) the
child’s physical, emotional and educational needs;
(c) the
likely effect on the child of any change in his or her circumstances;
(d) the
child’s age, sex, background and any characteristics of the child which
the court considers relevant;
(e) any
harm which the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
(f) how
capable each of the child’s parents, and any other person in relation to
whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting the
child’s needs; and
(g) the
range of powers available to the court under this Law in the proceedings in
question.
(4) The circumstances are
that –
(a) the
court is considering whether to make, vary or discharge an Article 10
order, and the making, variation or discharge of the order is opposed by any
party to the proceedings; or
(b) the
court is considering whether to make, vary or discharge an order under Part 4.
(5) Where the court is
considering whether or not to make one or more orders under this Law with
respect to a child, it shall not make the order or any of the orders unless it
considers that doing so would be better for the child than making no order at
all.
3 Parental
responsibility for children
(1) Where a child’s
father and mother were married to each other at the time of the child’s
birth, they shall each have parental responsibility for the child.
(2) Where a child’s
father and mother were not married to each other at the time of the
child’s birth –
(a) the
mother shall have parental responsibility for the child; and
(b) the
father shall not have responsibility for the child, unless he acquires it in
accordance with the provisions of this Law.
(3) The rules of law that –
(a) where
a child is legitimate, the child’s father has sole custody of the child;
and
(b) where
a child is illegitimate and the child’s mother marries, her husband
(whether or not he is the father) has sole custody of the child,
are abolished.
(4) More than one person
may have parental responsibility of the same child at the same time.
(5) A person who has
parental responsibility for a child at any time shall not cease to have that
responsibility solely because some other person subsequently acquires parental
responsibility for that child.
(6) Where more than one
person has parental responsibility for a child, each of them may act alone and
without the other (or others) in meeting that responsibility; but nothing in
this Part shall be taken to affect the operation of any enactment which
requires the consent of more than one person in a matter affecting the child.
(7) The fact that a person
has parental responsibility for a child shall not entitle the person to act in
any way which would be incompatible with any order made with respect to the
child under this Law.
(8) A person who has
parental responsibility for a child may not surrender or transfer any part of
that responsibility to another but may arrange for some or all of it to be met
by one or more persons acting on his or her behalf.
(9) The person with whom
any such arrangement is made may be a person who already has responsibility for
the child concerned.
(10) The making of any such
arrangement shall not affect any liability of the person making it which may
arise from any failure to meet any part of his or her parental responsibility
for the child concerned.
4 Person
without parental responsibility
(1) The fact that a person
has, or does not have, parental responsibility for a child shall not
affect –
(a) any
obligation which the person may have in relation to the child (such as a duty
to maintain the child); or
(b) any
rights which, in the event of the child’s death, the person (or any other
person) may have in relation to the child’s property.
(2) A person
who –
(a) does
not have parental responsibility for a particular child; but
(b) has
care of the child,
may (subject to the provisions of this Law) do what is reasonable in
all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting
the child’s welfare.
5 Acquisition
of parental responsibility by father
(1) Where a child’s
father and mother were not married to each other at the time of the child’s
birth –
(aa) subject to
paragraph (1A), the father shall have parental responsibility for the
child if he becomes registered as the child’s father under Article 55
or 56 of the Marriage and Civil Status (Jersey) Law 2001 (the “2001
Law”);
(a) the
court may, on the application of the father, order that he shall have parental
responsibility for the child; or
(b) the
father and mother may by agreement provide for the father to have parental responsibility
for the child.[5]
(1A) Paragraph (1)(aa) does not
apply to a father who was registered under the 2001 Law before the
commencement of the Children and Adoption (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2016.[6]
(2) Where a child is
treated in law as legitimate the court may –
(a) on
the application of a person claiming to be the child’s biological father;
and
(b) where
the court is satisfied he is the child’s biological father,
order that he shall have parental responsibility for the child
notwithstanding that he is not in law the child’s father.
(3) No parental
responsibility agreement shall have effect for the purposes of this Law
unless –
(a) it is
made in the prescribed form; and
(b) where
Rules of Court are made prescribing the manner in which such agreements must be
recorded, it is recorded in the prescribed manner.
(4) Subject to Article 13(4),
an order under paragraph (1)(a) or (2) or a parental responsibility
agreement may only be brought to an end by an order of the court made on the
application of –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child; or
(b) the
child.
6 Disputes
as to paternity
If, during any proceedings under this Law, any dispute arises as to
paternity, the court shall have power to determine it in the same manner as it
would have determined a dispute as to paternity when hearing an action for pension
alimentaire prior to the commencement of Article 82(2).
7 Appointment
of guardians
(1) Where an application
with respect to a child is made to the court by any individual, the court may
by order appoint that individual to be the child’s guardian
if –
(a) the
child has no parent with parental responsibility for him or her; or
(b) a
residence order has been made with respect to the child in favour of a parent
or guardian of the child’s who has died while the order was in force.
(2) The power conferred by
paragraph (1) may also be exercised in any family proceedings if the court
considers that the order should be made even though no application has been
made for it.
(3) A parent who has
parental responsibility for his or her child may appoint another individual to
be the child’s guardian in the event of his or her death.
(4) A guardian of a child
may appoint another individual to take his or her place as the child’s
guardian in the event of his or her death.
(5) An appointment under
paragraph (3) or (4) shall not have effect unless it is made in writing,
is dated and is signed –
(a) by
the person making the appointment; or
(b) at
the direction of the person making the appointment, in his or her presence and
in the presence of 2 witnesses who each attest the signature.
(6) A person appointed as a
child’s guardian under this Article shall have parental responsibility
for the child concerned.
(7) Where –
(a) on
the death of any person making an appointment under paragraph (3) or (4),
the child concerned has no parent with parental responsibility for the child;
or
(b) immediately
before the death of any person making such an appointment, a residence order in
his or her favour was in force with respect to the child,
the appointment shall take effect on the death of that person.
(8) Where, on the death of
any person making an appointment under paragraph (3) or (4) –
(a) the
child concerned has a parent with parental responsibility for the child; and
(b) paragraph (7)(b)
does not apply,
the appointment shall take effect when the child no longer has a
parent who has parental responsibility for him or her.
(9) Paragraphs (1) and
(7) do not apply if the residence order referred to in sub-paragraph (b)
of those paragraphs was also made in favour of a surviving parent of the child.
(10) Nothing in this Article shall
be taken to prevent an appointment under paragraph (3) or (4) being made
by 2 or more persons acting jointly.
(11) A guardian of a child may
only be appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
(12) [7]
(13) [8]
8 Guardians:
revocation and disclaimer
(1) An appointment under
Article 7(3) or (4) revokes an earlier such appointment (including one
made in an unrevoked will or codicil) made by the same person in respect of the
same child, unless it is clear (whether as the result of an express provision
in the later appointment or by any necessary implication) that the purpose of
the later appointment is to appoint an additional guardian.
(2) An appointment under
Article 7(3) or (4) (including one made in an unrevoked will or codicil)
is revoked if the person who made the appointment revokes it by a written and
dated instrument which is signed –
(a) by
the person; or
(b) at
the person’s direction, in his or her presence and in the presence of 2
witnesses who each attest the signature.
(3) An appointment under
Article 7(3) or (4) (other than one made in a will or codicil) is revoked
if, with the intention of revoking the appointment, the person who made
it –
(a) destroys
the instrument by which it was made; or
(b) has
some other person destroy that instrument in his or her presence.
(4) An appointment under
Article 7(3) or (4) (including one made in a will or codicil) is revoked
if the person appointed is the spouse of the person who made the appointment
and either –
(a) the
court by order dissolves, or by decree annuls the marriage; or
(b) the
marriage is dissolved and the divorce is entitled to recognition in Jersey by
virtue of the Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations
(Jersey) Law 1973,
unless a contrary intention appears by the appointment.
(4A) An appointment under Article 7(3)
or (4) (including one made in a will or codicil) is revoked if the person appointed
is the civil partner of the person who made the appointment and either –
(a) the court
by order dissolves or annuls the civil partnership; or
(b) the civil
partnership is dissolved and the dissolution is entitled to recognition in
Jersey by virtue of Part 4 of the Civil Partnership (Jersey) Law 2012,
unless a contrary intention appears by the appointment.[9]
(5) For the avoidance of
doubt, an appointment under Article 7(3) or (4) made in a will or codicil
is revoked if the will or codicil is revoked.
(6) A person who is
appointed as a guardian under Article 7(3) or (4) may disclaim the
appointment by an instrument in writing signed by the person and made within a
reasonable time of his or her first knowing that the appointment has taken
effect.
(7) Where Rules of Court
are made prescribing the manner in which such disclaimers must be recorded, no
such disclaimer shall have effect unless it is recorded in the prescribed
manner.
(8) Any appointment of a
guardian under Article 7 may be brought to an end at any time by order of
the court –
(a) on
the application of any person who has parental responsibility for the child;
(b) on
the application of the child concerned; or
(c) in
any family proceedings, if the court considers that it should be brought to an
end even though no application has been made.
9 Welfare
reports
(1) In considering any
question with respect to a child under this Law the court may
require –
(a) a
probation officer who is not the child’s guardian ad litem; or
(b) the
Minister to arrange for –
(i) an officer of an
administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility,
or
(ii) such
other person (other than a probation officer) as the Minister considers
appropriate,
to report to the court, in writing or orally as the court may
direct, on such matters relating to the welfare of that child as are required
to be dealt with in the report.
(2) Regardless of any enactment
or rule of law which would otherwise prevent it from doing so, the court may
take account of –
(a) any
statement contained in the report; and
(b) any
evidence given in respect of the matters referred to in the report,
in so far as the statement or evidence is, in the opinion of the
court, relevant to the question which it is considering.
PART 2
ORDERS WITH RESPECT TO CHILDREN IN FAMILY PROCEEDINGS
10 Power
of court to make certain orders with respect to children
(1) Subject to Article 11
and the following provisions of this Article, in any family proceedings in
which a question arises with respect to the welfare of any child, the court may
make the following orders with respect to a child –
(a) a
contact order;
(b) a
prohibited steps order;
(c) a
residence order; or
(d) a
specific issue order.
(2) The court may make an
Article 10 order –
(a) on
the application of any person who –
(i) is entitled to
apply for an Article 10 order with respect to the child, or
(ii) has
obtained the leave of the court to make the application; or
(b) if it
considers that the order should be made even though no such application has
been made.
(3) The following persons
are entitled to apply to the court for any Article 10 order with respect
to a child –
(a) any
parent or guardian of the child;
(b) any
person in whose favour a residence order is in force with respect to the child;
and
(c) any
person falling within such category of persons as may be prescribed in relation
to such type of Article 10 order as may be there prescribed.
(4) The following persons
are entitled to apply for a residence or contact order with respect to a
child –
(a) any
party to a marriage or civil partnership (whether or not subsisting) in
relation to whom the child is a child of the family;
(b) any
person with whom the child has lived for a period of not less than 12 out of
the 15 months immediately preceding the application;
(c) any
person who –
(i) in any case where
a residence order is in force with respect to the child, has the consent of
each of the persons in whose favour the order was made,
(ii) in
any case where the child is in the care of the Minister, has the
Minister’s consent, or
(iii) in
any other case, has the consent of each of those (if any) who have parental
responsibility for the child.[10]
(5) A person who would not
otherwise be entitled (under the previous provisions of this Article) to apply
for the variation or discharge of an Article 10 order shall be entitled to
do so if –
(a) the
order was made on the person’s application; or
(b) in
the case of a contact order, the person is named in the order.
(6) Where the person
applying for leave to make an application for an Article 10 order is not
the child concerned, the court shall, in deciding whether or not to grant
leave, have particular regard to –
(a) the
nature of the proposed application for the Article 10 order;
(b) the
applicant’s connection with the child;
(c) any
risk there might be of that proposed application disrupting the child’s
life to such an extent that the child would be harmed by it; and
(d) where
the child is being looked after by the Minister –
(i) the
Minister’s plans for the child’s future, and
(ii) the
wishes and feelings of the child’s parents.
11 Restrictions
on making Article 10 orders
(1) The court shall not
make any Article 10 order, other than a residence order, with respect to a
child who is in the care of the Minister.
(2) The Minister shall not
make any application for a residence order or contact order and the court shall
not make such an order in favour of the Minister.
(3) A person who is, or was
at any time within the last 6 months, an appointed foster parent of a
child may not apply for leave to apply for an Article 10 order with
respect to the child unless –
(a) the
person has the consent of the Minister;
(b) the
person is a relative of the child; or
(c) the
child has lived with the person for at least 3 years preceding the application.
(4) The period of 3 years
mentioned in paragraph (3)(c) need not be continuous but must have begun
not more than 5 years before the making of the application.
(5) The court shall not
exercise its powers to make a specific issue order or prohibited steps
order –
(a) with
a view to achieving a result which could be achieved by making a residence or
contact order; or
(b) in
any way which is denied to the court (by Article 76) in the exercise of
its inherent jurisdiction with respect to children.
(6) The court shall not
make any Article 10 order –
(a) which
is to have effect for a period which will end after the child has reached the age
of 16; or
(b) other
than one varying or discharging such an order, with respect to a child who has
reached the age of 16,
unless it is satisfied that the circumstances of the case are
exceptional.
12 General
principles and supplementary provisions
(1) In proceedings in which
any question of making an Article 10 order, or any other question with
respect to such an order, arises, the court may (in the light of any Rules of
Court made by virtue of paragraph (2)) –
(a) draw
up a timetable with a view to determining the question without delay; and
(b) give
such directions as it considers appropriate for the purpose of ensuring, so far
as is reasonably practicable, that the timetable is adhered to.
(2) Rules of Court
may –
(a) specify
periods within which specified steps must be taken in relation to proceedings
in which such questions arise; and
(b) make
other provision with respect to such proceedings for the purpose of ensuring,
so far as is reasonably practicable, that such questions are determined without
delay.
(3) Where the court has
power to make an Article 10 order, it may do so at any time during the
course of the proceedings in question even though it is not in a position to
dispose finally of those proceedings.
(4) Where a residence order
is made in favour of 2 or more persons who do not themselves live together, the
order may specify the periods during which the child is to live in the
different households concerned.
(5) Where –
(a) a
residence order has been made with respect to a child; and
(b) as a
result of the order the child lives, or is to live, with one of 2 parents who
each have responsibility for the child,
the residence order shall cease to have effect if the parents live
together for a continuous period of more than 6 months.
(6) A contact order which
requires the parent with whom a child lives to allow the child to visit or
otherwise have contact with the child’s other parent shall cease to have
effect if the parents live together for a continuous period of more than 6
months.
(7) An Article 10
order may –
(a) contain
directions about how it is to be carried into effect;
(b) impose
conditions which must be complied with by any person –
(i) in whose favour
the order is made,
(ii) who
is a parent of the child concerned,
(iii) who
is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for the child,
or
(iv) with
whom the child is living,
and to whom the conditions are expressed to apply;
(c) be
made to have effect for a specified period, or contain provisions which are to
have effect for a specified period; and
(d) make
such incidental, supplemental or consequential provision as the court thinks
fit.
13 Residence
orders and parental responsibility
(1) Where the court makes a
residence order in favour of the father of a child it shall, if the father
would not otherwise have parental responsibility for the child, also make an
order under Article 5 giving him that responsibility.
(2) Where the court makes a
residence order in favour of any person who is not the parent or guardian of
the child concerned, that person shall have parental responsibility for the
child while the residence order remains in force.
(3) Where a person has
parental responsibility for a child as a result of paragraph (2), the
person shall not have the right –
(a) to
consent, or refuse to consent, to the making of an application with respect to
the child under Article 12 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961; or
(b) to
agree, or refuse to agree, to the making of an adoption order, or an order
under Article 41 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961 with respect to the child.
(4) Where paragraph (1)
requires the court to make an order under Article 5 in respect of the
father of a child, the court shall not bring that order to an end at any time
while the residence order concerned remains in force.
14 Change
of child’s name or removal from jurisdiction
(1) Where a residence order
is in force with respect to a child, no person may –
(a) cause
the child to be known by a new surname; or
(b) remove
the child from Jersey,
without either the written consent of every person who has parental
responsibility for the child or the leave of the court.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b)
does not prevent the removal of a child, for a period of less than one month,
by the person in whose favour the residence order is made.
(3) In making a residence
order with respect to a child the court may grant the leave required by
paragraph (1)(b), either generally or for specified purposes.
15 Orders
for financial relief with respect to children
The court may make orders for financial relief with respect to any
child in accordance with Schedule 1.
16 Family
assistance orders
(1) Where, in any family
proceedings, the court has power to make an order under this Part with respect
to any child, it may (whether or not it makes such an order) make a family
assistance order requiring –
(a) a
probation officer to be made available; or
(b) the
Minister to make an officer of an administration of the States for which the
Minister is assigned responsibility available,
to advise, assist and (where appropriate) befriend any person named
in the order.
(2) The persons who may be
named in a family assistance order are –
(a) any
parent of the child;
(b) any
person with whom the child is living or in whose favour a contact order is in
force with respect to the child; or
(c) the
child.
(3) The court may not make
a family assistance order unless –
(a) it is
satisfied that the circumstances of the case are exceptional; and
(b) it
has obtained the consent of every person to be named in the order other than
the child.
(4) A family assistance
order may direct –
(a) the
person named in the order; or
(b) such
of the persons named in the order as may be specified in the order,
to take such steps as may be so specified with a view to enabling
the officer concerned to be kept informed of the address of any person named in
the order and to be allowed to visit any such person.
(5) Unless it specifies a
shorter period, a family assistance order shall have effect for a period of 6
months beginning with the day on which it is made.
(6) Where a family
assistance order and an Article 10 order are both in force with respect to
a child the officer concerned may refer to the court the question whether the
Article 10 order should be varied or discharged.
(7) Where a family
assistance order requires a probation officer to be made available, the officer
shall be selected in accordance with arrangements made by the Probation Board,
and if the selected officer is unable to carry out his or her duties or dies,
another probation officer shall be selected in the same manner.[11]
PART 3
MINISTERIAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
17 Provision
of accommodation for children: general
(1) The Minister shall
provide accommodation for any child in need who appears to the Minister to
require accommodation as a result of –
(a) there
being no person who has parental responsibility for the child;
(b) the
child’s being lost or having been abandoned; or
(c) the
person who has been caring for the child being prevented (whether or not
permanently, and for whatever reason) from providing the child with suitable
accommodation or care.
(2) Where the Minister
provides accommodation under paragraph (1) for a child who is ordinarily
resident outside Jersey, the Minister may arrange with the appropriate
authority in the place where the child ordinarily resides for that authority to
take over the provision of accommodation for the child.
(3) The Minister shall
provide accommodation for any child in need who has reached the age of 16 and
whose welfare the Minister considers is likely to be seriously prejudiced if
the Minister does not provide the child with accommodation.
(4) The Minister may
provide accommodation for any child in need regardless of the fact that a
person who has parental responsibility for the child is able to provide the
child with accommodation, if the Minister considers that to do so would
safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.
(5) The Minister may
provide accommodation for any person who has reached the age of 16 but is under
22 in any children’s home which takes children who have reached the age
of 16 if the Minister considers that to do so would safeguard or promote the
person’s welfare.[12]
(6) Before providing
accommodation under this Article, the Minister shall, so far as is reasonably
practicable and consistent with the child’s welfare –
(a) ascertain
the child’s wishes regarding the provision of accommodation; and
(b) give
due consideration (having regard to the child’s age and understanding) to
such wishes of the child as the Minister has been able to ascertain.
(7) Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article, the Minister may not provide accommodation for a
child under this Article if the Minister receives an objection from any person
who has parental responsibility for the child and is willing and able to
provide or arrange for the provision of accommodation for the child.
(8) Any person who has parental
responsibility for a child may at any time remove the child from accommodation
provided by or on behalf of the Minister under this Article.
(9) Paragraphs (7) and
(8) do not apply while any person –
(a) in
whose favour a residence order is in force with respect to the child; or
(b) who
has care of the child by virtue of an order made in the exercise of the
court’s inherent jurisdiction with respect to children,
agrees to the child being looked after in accommodation provided by
or on behalf of the Minister.
(10) Where there is more than one
such person as is mentioned in paragraph (9), all of them must agree.
(11) Paragraphs (7) and (8)
do not apply where a child who has reached the age of 16 agrees to being
provided with accommodation under this Article.
18 Provision
of accommodation for children needing protection
(1) The Minister shall make
provision for the reception and accommodation of children –
(a) who
are removed or kept away from home under Part 5; or
(b) who
have been taken into police protection and in relation to whom a request for
accommodation has been made under Article 41(2)(e).
(2) Where a child has been
removed under Part 5 and the child is not provided with accommodation by
the Minister or in a hospital, any reasonable expenses of accommodating the
child shall be recoverable from the Minister.
19 General
duty of Minister in relation to children the Minister looks after
(1) Where the Minister is
looking after any child, the Minister shall –
(a) promote
and support the child’s wellbeing, and safeguard the child’s
welfare; and
(b) provide
that child with such services as the child requires in accordance with
Part 7 of the Children and Young People (Jersey) Law 2022. [13]
(2) Before making any
decision with respect to a child the Minister is looking after or proposes to
look after, the Minister shall, so far as is reasonably practicable, ascertain
the wishes and feelings of –
(a) the
child;
(b) the
child’s parents;
(c) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child; and
(d) any
other person whose feelings and wishes the Minister considers to be relevant,
regarding the matter to be decided.
(3) In making any such
decision the Minister shall give due consideration –
(a) to
such wishes and feelings as the Minister has been able to ascertain
of –
(i) the child, having
regard to the child’s age and understanding, and
(ii) any
other person mentioned in paragraph (2); and
(b) to
the child’s religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and
linguistic background.
(4) The Minister’s
powers may be exercised, with respect to a child whom the Minister is looking
after, in a manner which may not be consistent with the Minister’s duties
if the Minister considers it necessary to do so to protect members of the
public from serious injury.
20 Provision
of accommodation and maintenance by Minister for children whom Minister is
looking after
(A1) Nothing in this Article applies to
a child or young person described in Article 1A(c).[14]
(1) The Minister shall
provide accommodation and maintenance for any child the Minister is looking
after –
(a) subject
to paragraph (2) and any Regulations made by the States, by placing the
child with a family, a relation of the child or any other suitable person on
such terms as to payment by the Minister and otherwise as the Minister may
determine;
(b) by
maintaining the child in a children’s home or home
consisting of a care home service that is mainly for children; or
(c) by
making such other arrangements as seem appropriate to the Minister and which
comply with any Regulations made under this Law.[15]
(2) Save as the States may,
by Regulations, otherwise provide, the Minister shall make arrangements with
respect to a child the Minister is looking after to enable the child to live
with –
(a) the
child’s parent or a person with parental responsibility for the child;
(b) where
the child is in care and there was a residence order in force with respect to
child immediately before the care order was made, a person in whose favour the
residence order was made; or
(c) a
relative, friend or other person connected with the child,
unless that would not be reasonably practicable or consistent with
the child’s welfare.
(3) Schedule 2 shall
have effect for the purposes of –
(a) making
further provision as to children looked after by the Minister and in particular
as to the Regulations that may be made under paragraph (1)(a) and (c); and
(b) making
provision in connection with contribution towards the maintenance of children
who are being looked after by the Minister.
(4) Where the Minister
receives a child into care under this Article who is ordinarily resident
outside Jersey, the Minister may arrange with the appropriate authority in the
place where the child ordinarily resides for that authority to take over the
care of the child and, in such case, the Minister may make such arrangements
with that authority regarding expenses incurred by the Minister under this Law
in respect of the child as the Minister may think fit.
21 Advice
and assistance for certain individuals and notification to be given in respect
of children leaving certain accommodation after age 16[16]
(1) Paragraph (2) applies
in respect of an individual who has reached the age of 18 but is under the
age of 22 who, at any time between the ages of 16 and 18, was –
(a) accommodated
by or on behalf of a voluntary organisation;
(b) accommodated
in a hospital, nursing home or in any home consisting of a care home service or
any nursing home for a consecutive period of at least 3 months (whether or
not this period began before the individual reached the age of 16); or
(c) a
privately fostered child.
(2) Paragraph (3)
applies where an individual described in paragraph (1) has asked the Minister
for assistance and –
(a) that
individual appears to the Minister to need advice and to be befriended; or
(b) the
Minister is satisfied that the person who was looking after the individual concerned
does not have the necessary facilities for advising or befriending that
individual.
(3) Where this paragraph
applies, the Minister may advise and befriend the individual concerned and may
give that individual assistance which may be in kind or in cash.
(4) Paragraph (5) applies
in respect of a child who is accommodated –
(a) by a
voluntary organisation or in a children’s home; or
(b) in
any home consisting of a care home service or any nursing home, for a
consecutive period of at least 3 months.
(5) Where a child described
in paragraph (4) ceases to be so accommodated after reaching the age of 16,
the organisation, or person carrying on the home which was accommodating the
child, must inform the Minister.
22 Secure accommodation other
than for children on remand or following sentence[17]
(A1) Nothing in this Article applies to
a child or young person described in Article 1A(c).[18]
(1) Subject to the
following provisions of this Article, a child who is being looked after by the
Minister may not be placed, and, if placed, may not be kept, in secure
accommodation unless it appears –
(a) that –
(i) the child has a
history of absconding and is likely to abscond from any other description of
accommodation, and
(ii) if
the child absconds, he or she is likely to suffer significant harm; or
(b) that
if the child is kept in any other description of accommodation he or she is
likely to injure himself or herself or other persons.[19]
(1A) A young person within the meaning
of the Criminal Justice (Young
Offenders) (Jersey) Law 2014, who having been sentenced to youth detention or
remanded in custody is required to be detained in secure accommodation shall be
treated for the purposes of this Law as a child who is being looked after by
the Minister.[20]
(1B) Where paragraph (1A) applies
the conditions in paragraph (1) and the remaining paragraphs of this
Article do not apply.[21]
(2) The Minister may by
Order –
(a) specify
a maximum period –
(i) beyond which a
child may not be kept in secure accommodation without the authority of the
court, and
(ii) for
which the court may authorize a child to be kept in secure accommodation;
(b) empower
the court from time to time to authorize a child to be kept in secure
accommodation for such further period as the Order may specify; and
(c) provide
that applications to the court under this Article shall be made only by the
Minister.
(3) The court hearing an
application under this Article shall decide whether the necessary criteria for
keeping a child in secure accommodation are satisfied and if so it shall make
an order –
(a) authorizing
the child to be so kept; and
(b) specifying
the maximum period for which the child may be so kept.
(4) On any adjournment of
the hearing of an application under this Article the court may make an interim
order permitting the child to be kept in secure accommodation during the period
of the adjournment.
(5) The court shall not
exercise the powers conferred by this Article in respect of a child who is not
legally represented unless, having been informed of his or her right to apply
for legal aid and having had the opportunity to do so, the child refused or
failed to apply.
(6) The Minister may by
Order provide that –
(a) this
Article shall or shall not apply to any description of children specified in
the Order;
(b) this
Article shall have effect in relation to children of a description specified in
the Order subject to such modifications as may be so specified;
(c) such
other provisions as may be so specified shall have effect for the purpose of
determining whether a child of a description specified in the Order may be
placed or kept in secure accommodation.
(7) The giving of an
authorization under this Article shall not prejudice any power of the court to
give directions relating to the child to whom the authorization relates.
(8) This Article is subject
to Article 17(8).
22A Secure
accommodation for children on remand or following sentence
The Minister may provide secure accommodation for a child or young
person within the meaning of the Young Offenders Law who, in accordance with
that Law, is required to be detained –
(a) in custody on remand in
secure accommodation; or
(b) in custody under any
provision of that Law in secure accommodation following the passing of a
sentence.[22]
23 Duties
of other Ministers not affected
Nothing in this Part shall affect any duty imposed on any other
Minister by or under any other enactment.
PART 4
CARE AND SUPERVISION
24 Care
and supervision orders
(1) The court may, on the
application of the Minister, make –
(a) a
care order placing the child with respect to whom the application is made in
the care of the Minister; or
(b) a
supervision order putting the child under the supervision of the Minister or of
a probation officer.
(2) The court may only make
a care order or supervision order if it is satisfied –
(a) that
the child concerned is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm; and
(b) that
the harm, or likelihood of harm, is attributable to –
(i) the care given to
the child, or likely to be given to the child if the order were not made, not
being what it would be reasonable to expect a parent to give the child, or
(ii) the
child’s being beyond parental control.
(3) The court may not make
a care order in respect of a child who has reached the age of 17 or, if he or
she is married or in a civil partnership, 16.[23]
(4) An application under
this Article may be made on its own or in any other family proceedings.
(5) The court
may –
(a) on an
application for a care order, make a supervision order; and
(b) on an
application for a supervision order, make a care order.
(6) In this
Article –
“harm” means ill-treatment or the impairment of health
or development;
“development” means physical, intellectual, emotional,
social or behavioural development;
“health” means physical or mental health; and
“ill-treatment” includes sexual abuse and forms of
ill-treatment which are not physical.
(7) Where the question of
whether harm suffered by a child is significant turns on the child’s
health or development, his or her health or development shall be compared with
that which could be expected of a similar child.
25 Time
periods
(1) When hearing an
application for an order under this Part the court may, in the light of any
Rules made by virtue of paragraph (2) –
(a) draw
up a timetable with a view to disposing of the application without delay; and
(b) give
such directions as it considers appropriate for the purpose of ensuring, so far
as is reasonably practicable, that the timetable is adhered to.
(2) Rules of Court
may –
(a) specify
periods within which specified steps must be taken in relation to such
proceedings; and
(b) make
other provision with respect to such proceedings for the purpose of ensuring,
so far as is reasonably practicable, that they are disposed of without delay.
26 Effect
of care order
(1) Where a care order is
in force with respect to a child the Minister shall –
(a) receive
the child and keep the child in the Minister’s care;
(b) have
parental responsibility for the child; and
(c) subject
to –
(i) any right, power,
responsibility or authority which a parent or guardian of the child has in
relation to the child and the child’s property by virtue of any other
enactment, and
(ii) the
following provisions of this Article,
have the power to determine the extent to which a parent or guardian
of the child may meet his or her parental responsibility for the child.
(2) The Minister may not
exercise the power in paragraph (1)(c) unless the Minister is satisfied
that it is necessary to do so in order to safeguard or promote the
child’s welfare.
(3) Nothing in paragraph (1)(c)
shall prevent a parent or guardian of the child who has care of the child from
doing what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the case for the purpose of
safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare.
(4) While a care order is
in force the Minister shall not –
(a) cause
the child to be brought up in any religious persuasion other than that in which
the child would have been brought up if the order had not been made; or
(b) have
the right –
(i) to consent or
refuse to consent to the making of an application with respect to the child
under Article 12 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961,
(ii) to
agree or refuse to agree to the making of an adoption order, or an order under
Article 41 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961 with respect to the child,
or
(iii) to
appoint a guardian for the child.
(5) While a care order is
in force with respect to a child, no person may –
(a) cause
the child to be known by a new surname; or
(b) remove
the child from Jersey,
without the written consent of every person who has parental
responsibility for the child or with leave of the court.
(6) Paragraph (5)(b)
does not –
(a) prevent
the removal of such a child, for the period of less than one month, by the
Minister; or
(b) apply
to arrangements for such a child to live outside Jersey.
27 Contact
with children in care
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, the Minister shall allow a child in the care
reasonable contact with –
(a) the
child’s parents;
(b) where
there was a residence order in force with respect to the child immediately
before the care order was made, the person in whose favour the order was made;
and
(c) where,
immediately before the care order was made, a person had care of the child by
virtue of an order made by a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to
children, that person.
(2) On an application made
by the Minister or the child, the court may make such order as it considers
appropriate with respect to the contact which is to be allowed between the
child and the named person.
(3) On an application made
by –
(a) any
person mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) to (c); or
(b) any
person who has obtained the leave of the court to make the application,
the court may make such order as it considers appropriate with
respect to the contact which is to be allowed between the child and that
person.
(4) On an application made
by the Minister or the child, the court may make an order authorizing the
Minister to refuse contact between the child and any person mentioned in
paragraph (1)(a) to (c) and named in the order.
(5) When making a care
order with respect to a child, or in family proceedings in connection with a
child who is in the care of the Minister, the court may make an order under
this Article, even though no application for such an order has been made with
respect to the child, if it considers that the order should be made.
(6) The Minister may, as a
matter of urgency, refuse to allow the contact that would otherwise be required
by virtue of paragraph (1) or an order under this Article for a period of
not more than 7 days if the Minister is satisfied that it is necessary to do so
in order to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.
(7) An order under this
Article may impose such conditions as the court considers appropriate.
(8) The States may by
Regulations make provision as to –
(a) the
steps to be taken by the Minister where he or she has exercised his or her
powers under paragraph (6);
(b) the
circumstances in which, and conditions subject to which, the terms of any order
under this Article may be departed from by agreement between the Minister and
the person in relation to whom the order is made; and
(c) notification
by the Minister of any variation or suspension of arrangements made (otherwise
than an order under this Article) with a view to affording any person contact
with a child to whom this Article applies.
(9) The court may vary or
discharge any order made under this Article on the application of –
(a) the
Minister;
(b) the
child concerned; or
(c) the
person named in the order.
(10) An order under this Article
may be made either at the same time as the care order itself or later.
(11) Before making a care order
with respect to any child the court shall –
(a) consider
the arrangements which the Minister has made, or proposes to make, for
affording any person contact with a child to whom this Article applies; and
(b) invite
the parties to the proceedings to comment on those arrangements.
28 Supervision
orders
(1) While a supervision
order is in force the supervisor shall –
(a) advise,
assist and befriend the supervised child;
(b) take
such steps as are reasonably necessary to give effect to the order; and
(c) where
the order is not wholly complied with or the supervisor considers that it may
no longer be necessary, consider whether or not to apply to the court for its
variation or discharge.
(2) Schedule 3 makes
further provision with respect to supervision orders.
29 Powers
of court in certain family proceedings
(1) Where, in any family
proceedings in which a question arises with respect to the welfare of any
child, it appears to the court that it may be appropriate for a care or
supervision order to be made with respect to the child, the court may direct
the Minister to undertake an investigation of the child’s circumstances.
(2) Where the court gives a
direction under this Article the Minister shall, when undertaking the
investigation, consider whether the Minister should –
(a) apply
for a care order or for a supervision order with respect to the child;
(b) provide
services or assistance for the child or his or her family; or
(c) take
any other action with respect to the child.
(3) Where the Minister
undertakes an investigation under this Article and decides not to apply for a
care order or supervision order with respect to the child concerned, the
Minister shall inform the court of –
(a) the
Minister’s reasons for so deciding;
(b) any
service or assistance which the Minister has provided, or intends to provide,
for the child and the child’s family; and
(c) any
other action which the Minister has taken or proposes to take, with respect to
the child.
(4) The information shall
be given to the court before the end of the period of 8 weeks beginning
with the date of direction, unless the court otherwise directs.
30 Interim
care and supervision orders
(1) The court may make an
interim care order or an interim supervision order where, in relation to the
child concerned, it –
(a) adjourns
any application for a care order or a supervision order; or
(b) gives
a direction under Article 29(1),
provided that it is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for
believing that the circumstances with respect to that child are as mentioned in
Article 24(2).
(2) Where in any
proceedings on an application for a care order or supervision order the court
makes a residence order with respect to the child concerned, it shall also make
an interim supervision order with respect to the child unless it is satisfied
that the child’s welfare will be satisfactorily safeguarded without an
interim order being made.
(3) An interim order made
under or by virtue of this Article shall have effect for such period as may be
specified in the order, but in any event shall cease to have effect on
whichever of the following events first occurs –
(a) the
expiry of the period of 8 weeks beginning with the date on which the order is
made;
(b) if
the order is the second or subsequent such order made with respect to the same
child in the same proceedings, the expiry of the period of –
(i) 4 weeks beginning
on the date on which the order in question is made, or
(ii) the
period of 8 weeks beginning with the date on which the first order was made,
whichever is the later;
(c) in a
case which falls within paragraph (1)(a), the disposal of the application;
(d) in a
case which falls within paragraph (1)(b) –
(i) the disposal of
the application for a care order or supervision order made by the Minister with
respect to the child, or
(ii) where
the court has given a direction under Article 29(4) but no application for
a care order or supervision order has been made with respect to the child, the
expiry of the period fixed by that direction.
(4) Where the court makes
an interim care order or interim supervision order it may give such directions
(if any) as it considers appropriate with respect to the medical or psychiatric
examination or other assessment of the child having regard to his or her
wishes.
(5) A direction under
paragraph (4) may be to the effect that there is to be no such examination
or no such examination unless the court directs otherwise.
(6) A direction under
paragraph (4) may be –
(a) given
when the interim order is made or at any time while it is in force; and
(b) varied
at any time on the application of any person falling within any class of person
prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.
(7) Paragraphs 3 and 4 of
Schedule 3 shall not apply in relation to an interim supervision order.
(8) Where the court makes
an order under or by virtue of this Article it shall, in determining the period
for which the order is to be in force, consider whether any party who was, or
might have been, opposed to the making of the order was in a position to argue his
or her case against the order in full.
31 Power
to include exclusion requirement in interim care order
(1) Where –
(a) on
being satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the
circumstances with respect to a child are as mentioned in Article 24(2)(a)
and (b)(i), the court makes an interim care order with respect to a child; and
(b) the
conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) are satisfied,
the court may include an exclusion requirement in the interim care
order.
(2) The conditions
are –
(a) that
there is reasonable cause to believe that, if the person in respect of whom the
court is considering imposing an exclusion requirement is excluded from a
dwelling house in which the child lives, the child will cease to suffer, or
cease to be likely to suffer, significant harm; and
(b) that
another person living in the dwelling house (whether a parent of the child or
some other person) –
(i) is able and
willing to give to the child the care which it would be reasonable to expect a
parent to give the child, and
(ii) consents
to the inclusion of the exclusion requirement.
(3) The court may provide
that the exclusion requirement is to have effect for a shorter period than the
other provisions of the interim care order.
(4) The court may attach a
power of arrest to the exclusion requirement and may provide for such power to
have effect for a shorter period than the exclusion requirement.
(5) Any period specified
for the purposes of paragraph (3) or (4) may be extended by the court
(on one or more occasions) on an application to vary or discharge the interim
care order.
(6) Where a power of arrest
is attached to an exclusion requirement a police officer may arrest without
warrant any person whom the officer has reasonable cause to believe to be in
breach of the requirement.
(7) Article 3(8) of
the Powers of Arrest
(Injunctions) (Jersey) Law 1998 shall have effect in relation to a person
arrested under paragraph (6) of this Article as it has effect in relation
to a person arrested under paragraph (3) or (4) of that Article.
(8) If, while an interim
care order containing an exclusion requirement is in force, the Minister has
removed the child from the dwelling house from which the excluded person is
excluded to other accommodation for a continuous period of more than
24 hours, the interim care order shall cease to have effect in so far as
it imposes the exclusion requirement.
32 Undertakings
relating to interim care orders
(1) Without prejudice to
any other power of the court, in any case where the court has power to include
an exclusion requirement in an interim care order, it may accept an undertaking
from the excluded person.
(2) No power of arrest may
be attached to any undertaking given under paragraph (1).
(3) An undertaking given to
the court under paragraph (1) –
(a) shall
be enforceable as if it were an order of the court; and
(b) shall
cease to have effect if, while it is in force, the Minister has removed the
child from the dwelling house from which the excluded person is excluded to
other accommodation for a continuous period of more than 24 hours.
33 Discharge
and variation of care orders and supervision orders
(1) A care order may be
discharged by the court on the application of –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child;
(b) the
child; or
(c) the
Minister.
(2) A supervision order may
be varied or discharged by the court on the application of –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child;
(b) the
child; or
(c) the
supervisor.
(3) On the application of a
person who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged, but who is
a person with whom the child is living, a supervision order may be varied by
the court in so far as it imposes a requirement which affects that person.
(4) On the application of a
person who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged, but who is
a person to whom an exclusion requirement contained in the order applies, an
interim care order may be varied or discharged by the court in so far as it
imposes the exclusion requirement.
(5) Where a power of arrest
has been attached to an exclusion requirement of any interim care order, the
court may, on the application of any person entitled to apply for the discharge
of the order so far as it imposes the exclusion requirement, vary or discharge
the order in so far as it confers a power of arrest (whether or not any
application has been made to vary or discharge any other provision of the
order).
(6) Where a care order is
in force with respect to a child the court may, on the application of any
person entitled to apply for the order to be discharged, substitute a
supervision order for the care order.
(7) When a court is
considering whether to substitute one order for another under paragraph (6),
any provision of this Law which would otherwise require Article 24(2) to
be satisfied at the time when the proposed order is substituted or made shall
be disregarded.
34 Orders
pending appeals in care and supervision cases
(1) If when the court
dismisses an application for a care order the child concerned is the subject of
an interim care order, the court may make a care order with respect to the
child to have effect subject to such directions (if any) as the court may see
fit to include in the order.
(2) If when the court
dismisses an application for a care order or a supervision order the child
concerned is the subject of an interim supervision order, the court may make a
supervision order with respect to the child to have effect subject to such
directions (if any) as the court may see fit to include in the order.
(3) Where the court grants
an application to discharge a care order or supervision order, it may order that –
(a) its
decision is not to have effect; or
(b) the
care order or supervision order is to continue to have effect but subject to
such directions as the court sees fit to include in the order.
(4) An order made under
this Article shall only have effect for such period, not exceeding the appeal
period, as may be specified in the order.
(5) Where –
(a) an
appeal is made against any decision of the court under this Article; or
(b) any
application is made to the Court of Appeal in connection with a proposed appeal
against that decision,
the Court of Appeal may extend the period for which the order in
question is to have effect, but not so as to extend it beyond the end of the
appeal period.
(6) In this Article
“appeal period” means –
(a) where
an appeal is made against the decision in question, the period between the
making of that decision and the determination of the appeal; and
(b) otherwise,
the period during which an appeal may be made against the decision.
PART 5
PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
35 Causing
harm to or neglecting children under 16
(1) If any person who has
responsibility for a child under the age of 16 intentionally or
recklessly –
(a) causes
any harm to that child;
(b) exposes
the child to a risk of harm; or
(c) neglects
the child in a manner likely to cause the child harm,
the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment
for a term of 10 years and to a fine.
(2) For the purposes of
this Article –
(a) a
person with responsibility for a child shall be deemed to have neglected the child
in a manner likely to cause the child harm if he or she has failed to provide,
or procure the provision of, adequate food, clothing, medical aid or lodging
for the child; and
(b) where
it is proved that the death of a child under the age of 3 years was caused by
suffocation (other than as a result of disease or the presence of a foreign
body in that child’s throat or air passages) while that child was in bed
with some other person over the age of 16 years who went to bed under the
influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, that other person shall be deemed to
have neglected the child in a manner likely to cause the child harm.
(3) A person may be
convicted of an offence under this Article notwithstanding –
(a) that
harm or the likelihood of harm was obviated by the action of another person; or
(b) that
the child in question has died.
(4) If, on the trial of any
person on a charge of infanticide or manslaughter of a child under the age of
16 for whom he or she had responsibility, the court or the jury as the case may
be, is of the opinion that the person was not guilty of the offence charged but
was guilty of an offence under this Article, the person may be found guilty of
such an offence and shall be liable to be sentenced accordingly.
(5) [24]
(6) For the purposes of
this Article –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for a child or is otherwise legally
liable to maintain a child; and
(b) any
person who has care of a child,
shall be presumed to have responsibility for the child.
36 Child
assessment orders
(1) The court may, on the
application of the Minister, make a child assessment order authorizing any
person carrying out the assessment or any part of the assessment to do so in
accordance with the order, provided that it is satisfied that –
(a) the
Minister has reasonable cause to suspect that the child is suffering, or is
likely to suffer, significant harm;
(b) an
assessment of the state of the child’s health or development, or of the
way in which the child has been treated, is required to enable the Minister to
determine whether or not the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer,
significant harm; and
(c) it is
unlikely that such an assessment will be made, or be satisfactory, in the
absence of an order under this Article.
(2) The court may treat an
application under this Article as an application for an emergency protection
order.
(3) The court shall not
make a child assessment order if it is satisfied –
(a) that
there are grounds for making an emergency protection order with respect to the child;
and
(b) that
it ought to make such an order rather than a child assessment order.
(4) A child assessment
order shall –
(a) specify
the date by which the assessment is to begin; and
(b) have
effect for such period, not exceeding 7 days beginning with that date, as may
be specified in the order.
(5) Where a child
assessment order is in force any person who is able to produce the child to
which it relates shall –
(a) produce
the child to such person as may be named in the order; and
(b) comply
with such directions relating to the assessment of the child as the court
thinks fit to specify in the order.
(6) The child may only be
kept away from home –
(a) in
accordance with directions specified in the order;
(b) if it
is necessary for the purposes of the assessment; and
(c) for
such period or periods as may be specified in the order.
(7) Where the child is to
be kept away from home, the order shall contain such directions as the court
thinks fit with regard to the contact that the child must be allowed to have
with other persons while away from home.
(8) The Minister shall take
such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that notice of the
application is given before the hearing to –
(a) the
child’s parents;
(b) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child;
(c) any
other person caring for the child;
(d) any
person in whose favour a contact order is in force with respect to the child;
and
(e) any
person who is allowed to have contact with the child by virtue of an order
under Article 27.
(9) The court may vary or
discharge a child assessment order.
37 Emergency
protection orders
(1) The Bailiff may, on the
application of any person, make an emergency protection order with respect to a
child if the Bailiff is satisfied that –
(a) there
is reasonable cause to believe that the child is likely to suffer significant
harm if –
(i) the child is not
removed to accommodation provided by or on behalf of the Minister, or
(ii) the
child does not remain in the place in which he or she is then being
accommodated; or
(b) in
the case of an application made by the Minister –
(i) enquiries are
being made with respect to the child under Article 42(1)(b), and
(ii) those
enquiries are being frustrated by access to the child being unreasonably
refused to an officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister
is assigned responsibility, or other person authorized to act on behalf of, the
Minister and the Minister has reasonable cause to believe that access to the
child is required as a matter of urgency.
(2) Any person seeking
access to a child in connection with enquiries of a kind mentioned in paragraph (1)
and purporting to be a person authorized to do so shall, on being asked to do
so, produce some duly authenticated document as evidence that he or she is such
a person.
(3) Where an emergency
protection order is in force –
(a) any
person who can comply with any request to produce the child to the applicant
must do so; and
(b) the
applicant may, in order to safeguard the welfare of the child –
(i) at any time
remove the child to and keep the child at accommodation provided by the
applicant or on the applicant’s behalf, or
(ii) prevent
the child being removed from any hospital or other place in which he or she was
being accommodated immediately before the making of the order; and
(c) the
applicant shall –
(i) have parental
responsibility for the child but shall only take such action in meeting such
responsibility as is reasonably required to safeguard or promote the
child’s welfare having regard to the duration of the order, and
(ii) comply
with the requirements of any Regulations made by the States for the purposes of
this Article.
(4) Where the Bailiff makes
an emergency protection order the Bailiff may give such directions, if any, as he
or she considers appropriate with respect to –
(a) the
contact which is, or is not, to be allowed between the child and any named
person and may impose conditions on such contact; and
(b) the
medical or psychiatric examination or other assessment of the child.
(5) A direction under
paragraph (4)(b) may be to the effect that there is to be no such
examination or assessment or no such examination or assessment unless the
Bailiff directs otherwise.
(6) A direction under
paragraph (4) may be –
(a) given
when the emergency protection order is made or at any time while it is in
force; and
(b) varied
at any time on the application of any person falling within any class of person
prescribed for the purposes of this paragraph.
(7) Where an emergency
protection order is in force with respect to a child and the applicant has
exercised the power given by –
(a) paragraph (3)(b)(i)
but it appears to the applicant that it is safe for the child to be returned; or
(b) paragraph (3)(b)(ii)
but it appears to the applicant to be safe for the child to be allowed to be
removed from the place in question,
the applicant shall return the child or (as the case may be) allow
the child to be removed.
(8) Where the applicant is
required by paragraph (7) to return the child the applicant
shall –
(a) return
the child to the care of the person from whose care the child was removed; or
(b) if
that is not reasonably practicable, return the child to the care
of –
(i) a parent of the
child,
(ii) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child, or
(iii) such
other person as the Minister, with the agreement of the Bailiff, considers
appropriate.
(9) Where the applicant has
been required by paragraph (7) to return the child, or to allow the child
to be removed, the applicant may again exercise his or her powers with respect
to the child (at any time while the emergency protection order remains in
force) if it appears to the applicant that a change in the circumstances of the
case makes it necessary for him or her to do so.
(10) Where an emergency protection
order has been made with respect to a child, the applicant shall, subject to
any direction given under paragraph (4), allow the child reasonable
contact with –
(a) his
or her parents;
(b) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child;
(c) any
person with whom the child was living immediately before the making of the
order;
(d) any
person in whose favour a contact order is in force with respect to the child;
(e) any
person who is allowed to have contact with the child by virtue of an order
under Article 27; and
(f) any
person acting on behalf of any of those persons.
(11) Wherever it is reasonably
practicable to do so, an emergency protection order shall name the child or
describe the child as clearly as possible.
(12) A person who intentionally
obstructs any person exercising the power under paragraph (3)(b) to
remove, or prevent the removal of, a child shall be guilty of an offence and
liable to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
38 Power
to include exclusion requirement in emergency protection order
(1) Where –
(a) on
being satisfied as mentioned in Article 37(1)(a) or (b), the Bailiff makes
an emergency protection order with respect to a child; and
(b) the
conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) are satisfied,
the Bailiff may include an exclusion requirement in the emergency
protection order.
(2) The conditions
are –
(a) that
there is reasonable cause to believe that, if the person in respect of whom the
Bailiff is considering imposing an exclusion requirement is excluded from a
dwelling house in which the child lives, then –
(i) in the case of an
order made on the ground mentioned in Article 37(1)(a), the child will not
be likely to suffer significant harm even though the child is not removed as
mentioned in clause (i) of that sub-paragraph or does not remain as
mentioned in clause (ii) of that sub-paragraph, or
(ii) in
the case of an order made on the ground mentioned in Article 37(1)(b), the
enquiries referred to in that paragraph will cease to be frustrated; and
(b) that
another person living in the dwelling house (whether a parent of the child or
some other person) –
(i) is able and
willing to give to the child the care which it would be reasonable to expect a
parent to give the child, and
(ii) consents
to the inclusion of the exclusion requirement.
(3) The Bailiff may provide
that the exclusion requirement is to have effect for a shorter period than the
other provisions of the order.
(4) The Bailiff may attach
a power of arrest to the exclusion requirement and may provide for such power
to have effect for a shorter period than the exclusion requirement.
(5) Any period specified
for the purposes of paragraph (3) or (4) may be extended by the
Bailiff (on one or more occasions) on an application to vary or discharge the
emergency protection order.
(6) Where a power of arrest
is attached to an exclusion requirement a police officer may arrest without
warrant any person whom the officer has reasonable cause to believe to be in
breach of the requirement.
(7) Article 3(8) of
the Powers of Arrest
(Injunctions) (Jersey) Law 1998 shall have effect in relation to a person
arrested under paragraph (6) of this Article as it has effect in relation
to a person arrested under paragraph (3) or (4) of that Article.
(8) If, while an emergency
protection order containing an exclusion requirement is in force, the applicant
has removed the child from the dwelling house from which the excluded person is
excluded to other accommodation for a continuous period of more than 24 hours,
the emergency protection order shall cease to have effect in so far as it
imposes the exclusion requirement.
39 Undertakings
relating to emergency protection orders
(1) Without prejudice to
any other power of the court, in any case where the court has power to include
an exclusion requirement in an emergency protection order, it may accept an
undertaking from the excluded person.
(2) No power of arrest may
be attached to any undertaking given under paragraph (1).
(3) An undertaking given to
the court under paragraph (1) –
(a) shall
be enforceable as if it were an order of the court; and
(b) shall
cease to have effect if, while it is in force, the applicant has removed the
child from the dwelling house from which the excluded person is excluded to
other accommodation for a continuous period of more than 24 hours.
40 Duration
of emergency protection orders and other supplemental provisions
(1) An emergency protection
order shall have effect for such period, not exceeding 28 days, as may be
specified in the order, but where the order would, but for the following
provisions of this paragraph, cease to have effect on a day which is a holiday,
the order shall have effect until noon on the first day thereafter which is not
a holiday.
(2) Where an emergency
protection order is made on an application under Article 41(5)(a), the period
of 28 days mentioned in paragraph (1) shall begin with the first day
on which the child was taken into police protection under Article 41.
(3) Any person
who –
(a) has
parental responsibility for a child as the result of an emergency protection
order; and
(b) is
entitled to apply for a care order with respect to the child,
may apply to the Bailiff for the period during which the emergency
protection order is to have effect to be extended.
(4) Regardless of any
enactment or rule of law which would otherwise prevent the Bailiff from doing
so, the Bailiff may, when hearing an application for or with respect to an
emergency protection order, take account of –
(a) any
statement contained in any report made to the Bailiff in the course of, or in
connection with, the hearing; or
(b) any
evidence given during the hearing,
which is, in the Bailiff’s opinion, relevant to the
application.
(5) An application to
discharge an emergency protection order may be made to the court
by –
(a) the
child;
(b) a
parent of the child;
(c) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child; or
(d) any
person with whom the child was living before the making of the order.
(6) On the application of a
person who is not entitled to apply for the order to be discharged, but who is
a person to whom an exclusion requirement contained in the order applies, an
emergency protection order may be varied or discharged by the court in so far
as it imposes the exclusion requirement.
(7) Where a power of arrest
has been attached to an exclusion requirement of an emergency protection order,
the court may, on the application of any person entitled to apply for the
discharge of the order so far as it imposes the exclusion requirement, vary or
discharge the order in so far as it confers a power of arrest (whether or not
any application has been made to vary or discharge any other provision of the
order).
(8) No application for the
discharge of an emergency protection order shall be heard by the court before
the expiry of the period of 72 hours beginning with the making of the order.
(9) No appeal may be made
against –
(a) the
making of, or refusal to make, an emergency protection order;
(b) the
extension of, or refusal to extend, the period during which such an order is to
have effect;
(c) the
discharge of, or refusal to discharge, such an order; or
(d) the
giving of, or refusal to give, any direction in connection with such an order.
(10) Paragraph (5) does not
apply –
(a) where
the person who would otherwise be entitled to apply for the emergency
protection order to be discharged –
(i) was given notice
(in accordance with Rules of Court) of the hearing at which the order was made,
and
(ii) was
present at the hearing; or
(b) to
any emergency protection order the effective period of which has been extended
under paragraph (4).
(11) In making an emergency
protection order the Bailiff may direct that the applicant may, in exercising
any powers which the applicant has by virtue of the order, be accompanied by a
registered medical practitioner or such other person as the Bailiff may direct.
41 Taking
of children into police protection
(1) Where a police officer
has reasonable cause to believe that a child would otherwise be likely to
suffer significant harm, the officer may take the child into police protection
for up to 72 hours by –
(a) removing
the child to and keeping the child in suitable accommodation; or
(b) taking
such steps as are reasonable to prevent the child’s removal from any
hospital, or other place, in which the child is then being accommodated,
and the officer may enter and search any premises in order to do so.
(2) As soon as reasonably
practicable after taking a child into police protection, the police officer
concerned shall –
(a) inform
the Minister of the steps that have been, and are proposed to be, taken with
respect to the child under this Article and the reasons for taking them;
(b) inform
the child (if the child appears capable of understanding) –
(i) of the steps that
have been taken with respect to him or her under this Article and of the
reasons for taking them, and
(ii) of
the further steps that may be taken with respect to him or her under this
Article;
(c) take
such steps as are reasonably practicable to discover the wishes and feelings of
the child;
(d) secure
that the case is inquired into by a police officer designated for the purposes
of this Article by the Chief Officer of the States of Jersey Police Force, or an
officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned
responsibility, or both of them acting jointly (an “inquiry
officer”);
(e) where
the child was taken into police protection by being removed to accommodation
which is not provided by the Minister or as a refuge in compliance with the
requirements of Article 46, secure that the child is moved to
accommodation which is so provided.[25]
(3) As soon as is
reasonably practicable after taking a child into police protection, the police
officer concerned shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to
inform –
(a) the
child’s parents;
(b) every
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child; and
(c) any
other person with whom the child was living immediately before being taken into
police protection,
of the steps that the officer has taken under this Article with
respect to the child, the reasons for taking them and the further steps that
may be taken with respect to the child under this Article.
(4) On completing an
inquiry under paragraph (2)(d), the inquiry officer shall cause the child
to be released from police protection unless the officer considers that there
is still reasonable cause for believing that the child would be likely to
suffer significant harm if released.
(5) While a child is being
kept in police protection –
(a) an
officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned
responsibility may apply on behalf of the Minister for an emergency protection
order;
(b) neither
the police officer concerned nor the inquiry officer shall have parental
responsibility for the child; and
(c) the
inquiry officer shall do what is reasonable in all the circumstances of the
case for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare
(having regard in particular to the length of the period during which the child
will be so protected).
(6) Where a child has been
taken into police protection –
(a) the
child’s parents;
(b) any
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child;
(c) any
person with whom the child was living immediately before the child was taken
into police protection;
(d) any
person in whose favour a contact order is in force with respect to the child;
(e) any
person who is allowed to have contact with the child by virtue of an order under
Article 27; and
(f) any
person acting on behalf of any of those persons,
shall have such contact (if any) with the child as, in the opinion
of the inquiry officer, is both reasonable and in the child’s best
interests.
42 Minister’s
duty to investigate
(1) Where the
Minister –
(a) is
informed that a child is the subject of an emergency protection order or is in
police protection; or
(b) has
reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or is likely to suffer,
significant harm,
the Minister shall make, or cause to be made, such enquiries as the
Minister considers necessary to enable the Minister to decide whether he or she
should take any action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.
(2) Where the Minister has
obtained an emergency protection order with respect to a child, the Minister
shall make, or cause to be made, such enquiries as he or she considers
necessary to enable the Minister to decide whether he or she should take any
action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.
(3) The enquiries shall, in
particular, be directed towards establishing –
(a) whether
the Minister should make any application to the court, or exercise any of the
Minister’s other powers under this Law, with respect to the child;
(b) whether,
in the case of a child –
(i) with respect to
whom an emergency protection order has been made, and
(ii) who
is not in accommodation provided by or on behalf of the Minister,
it would be in the
child’s best interests (while an emergency protection order remains in
force) for the child to be in such accommodation; and
(c) whether,
in the case of a child who has been taken into police protection, it would be
in the child’s best interests for an application to be made under Article 41(5)(a).
(4) Where enquiries are
being made under paragraph (1) with respect to a child, the Minister shall
(with a view to enabling the Minister to determine what action, if any, to take
with respect to the child) take such steps as are reasonably
practicable –
(a) to
obtain access to the child; or
(b) to
ensure that access to the child is obtained, on the Minister’s behalf, by
a person authorized by the Minister for the purpose,
unless the Minister is satisfied that the Minister already has
sufficient information with respect to the child.
(5) Where, in the course of
enquiries made under this Article, an officer of an administration of the
States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility or any other person
authorized by the Minister to act on his or her behalf in connection with those
enquiries –
(a) is
refused access to the child concerned; or
(b) is
denied information as to the child’s whereabouts,
the Minister shall apply for an emergency protection order, a child
assessment order, a care order or supervision order with respect to the child
unless the Minister is satisfied that the child’s welfare can be
satisfactorily safeguarded without the Minister’s doing so.
(6) If, on conclusion of
any enquiries or review made under this Article, the Minister decides not to
apply for any of the orders mentioned in paragraph (5) the Minister
shall –
(a) consider
whether it would be appropriate to review the case at a later date; and
(b) if
the Minister decides that it would be so appropriate, determine the date on
which that review is to begin.
(7) Where, as a result of
complying with this Article, the Minister concludes that he or she should take
action to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare the Minister shall
take that action (so far as it is both within the Minister’s power and
reasonably practicable for him or her to do so).
(8) Where the Minister is
conducting enquiries under this Article, it shall be the duty of any
administration of the States to assist the Minister with his or her enquiries
(in particular by providing relevant information and advice) if called upon by
the Minister to do so, unless it would be unreasonable to do so in all the
circumstances of the case.
(9) Where the Ministry is
making enquiries under this Article with respect to a child who appears to the
Minister to be ordinarily resident outside Jersey, the Minister shall consult
the appropriate authority for the place where the child is so resident.
43 Powers
to assist in discovery of children who may be in need of emergency protection
(1) Where the
Bailiff –
(a) makes
an emergency protection order; and
(b) considers
that adequate information as to the child’s whereabouts is not available
to the applicant but is available to another person,
the Bailiff may include in the order a provision requiring that
other person to disclose, if asked to do so by the applicant, any information
that he or she may have as to the child’s whereabouts.
(2) No person shall be
excused from complying with such a requirement on the ground that complying
might incriminate the person or his or her spouse or civil partner of an
offence; but a statement or admission made in complying shall not be admissible
in evidence against either of them in proceedings for any offence other than
perjury.[26]
(3) An emergency protection
order may authorize such person as is named in the order to enter premises
specified by the order and search for the child with respect to whom the order
is made.
(4) Where the Bailiff is
satisfied that there is reasonable cause to believe that there may be another
child on those premises with respect to whom an emergency protection order
ought to be made, the Bailiff may make an order authorizing the applicant to
search for that other child on those premises and the applicant shall notify
the Bailiff of the result of such search.
(5) Where –
(a) an
order has been made under paragraph (4);
(b) the
child has been found on the premises; and
(c) the
applicant is satisfied that the grounds for making an emergency protection
order exist with respect to the child,
the order shall have effect as if it were an emergency protection
order.
(6) A person who
intentionally obstructs any person exercising the power of entry and search
under paragraph (3) or (4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a
fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
44 Abduction
of children
A person who, knowingly and without lawful authority or reasonable
excuse –
(a) takes a child who is in
care, the subject of an emergency protection order or in police protection away
from the person who for the time being has care of the child by virtue of such
order or protection;
(b) keeps such a child away
from such person; or
(c) induces, assists or
incites such a child to run away or stay away from such person,
shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term
of 6 months, and to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale.[27]
45 Recovery
of abducted children
(1) Where it appears to the
court that there is reason to believe that an offence under Article 44 has
been committed or that a child described in paragraph (a) of that Article
has run away or is missing it may issue a recovery order.
(2) A recovery
order –
(a) operates
as a direction to any person who is in a position to do so to produce the child
on request to any authorized person;
(b) authorizes
the removal of the child by any authorized person;
(c) requires
any person who has information as to the child’s whereabouts to disclose
that information, if asked to do so, to any authorized person; and
(d) where
it appears to the court that there are reasonable grounds for believing the
child is on premises specified in the order, authorizes a police officer to
enter such premises and search for the child, using reasonable force if
necessary.
(3) The court may make a
recovery order only on the application of –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child by virtue of a care order
or emergency protection order; or
(b) where
the child is in police protection, the inquiry officer.
(4) A recovery order shall
name the child and –
(a) any
person who has parental responsibility for the child by virtue of a care order
or emergency protection order; or
(b) where
the child is in police protection, the inquiry officer.
(5) In this Article
“authorized person” means –
(a) any
person specified by the court;
(b) any
police officer; or
(c) any
person who is authorized –
(i) after the
recovery order is made, and
(ii) by
a person who has parental responsibility for the child by virtue of a care
order or an emergency protection order,
to exercise any power under a recovery order.
(6) Where a person is
authorized as mentioned in paragraph (5)(c) –
(a) the
authorization shall identify the recovery order; and
(b) any
person claiming to be so authorized shall, if asked to do so, produce some duly
authenticated document showing that he or she is so authorized.
(7) A person who
intentionally obstructs an authorized person exercising the power under
paragraph (2)(b) to remove a child shall be guilty of an offence and
liable to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
(8) No person shall be
excused from complying with any request made under paragraph (2)(c) on the
ground that complying with it might incriminate the person or his or her spouse
or civil partner of an offence; but a statement or admission made in complying
shall not be admissible in evidence against either of them in proceedings for
an offence other than perjury.[28]
(9) Where a child is made
the subject of a recovery order whilst being looked after by the Minister, any
reasonable expenses incurred by an authorized person in giving effect to the
order shall be recoverable from the Minister.
46 Refuges
for children at risk
(1) Where –
(a) it is
proposed to use a children’s home to provide for a refuge for children
who appear to be at risk of harm; or
(b) the
Minister arranges for a foster parent to provide such a refuge,
the Minister may issue a certificate under this Article with respect
to that home or that foster parent.[29]
(2) In paragraph (1)
“foster parent” means a person who is, or who from time to time is,
an appointed foster parent or a foster parent with whom children are placed by
a voluntary organization.
(3) The States may by
Regulations –
(a) make
provision as to the manner in which certificates are issued;
(b) impose
requirements which must be complied with while any certificate is in force; and
(c) provide
for the withdrawal of certificates in such circumstances as the Regulations may
prescribe.
(4) Article 44 of this
Law and Article 3 of the Criminal Law (Child Abduction) (Jersey) Law 2005 shall not apply –
(a) where
a certificate is in force with respect to a home, in relation to any person
providing a refuge for any child in that home; and
(b) where
a certificate is in force with respect to a foster parent, in relation to the
provision by that foster parent of a refuge for any child in accordance with
arrangements made by the Minister.[30]
47 Rules
of Court
(1) Without prejudice to
Article 67 or any other power to make such Rules, Rules of Court may be
made with respect to the procedure to be followed in connection with
proceedings under this Part.
(2) The Rules may in
particular make provision –
(a) as to
the form in which any application is to be made or direction is to be given;
(b) prescribing
the persons who are to be notified of –
(i) the making, or
extension, of an emergency protection order, or
(ii) the
making of an application under Article 40(3) or (6) or Article 41(5)(a);
and
(c) as to
the content of any such notification and the manner in which, and person by
whom, it is to be given.
PART 6
EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
48 Restrictions
on employment of children
(1) The Minister may make
Orders with respect generally to the employment of children, and any such Order
may distinguish between children of different ages and sexes and between
different trades, occupations and circumstances.
(2) If it appears to the
Minister that any child is being employed in such a manner as to be prejudicial
to the child’s health or otherwise to render the child unfit to obtain
the full benefit of any education provided for the child, the Minister may give
notice in writing to the employer prohibiting the employer from employing the
child or imposing such restrictions on the employment of the child as appear to
the Minister to be expedient in the interests of the child.
(3) The Minister may serve
notice in writing on the employer of, or the parent or guardian of, any child,
requiring such person to provide the Minister, within such period as may be
specified in the notice, with such information as appears to the Minister to be
necessary to ascertain whether the child is being employed in such a manner as
to render the child unfit to obtain the full benefit of the education provided
for the child.
(4) An employer aggrieved
by a notice served on him or her under paragraph (2) or the child to whom
such notice relates, may appeal to the court within 15 days of such
service, on the ground that the decision is unreasonable having regard to all
the circumstances of the case, and the requirements of the notice shall not be
effective until the 15-day period has elapsed or, where an appeal is brought,
until its determination.
(5) For the purposes of
this Part and any Order made under it, a person who assists in a trade or
occupation carried on for profit shall be regarded as being employed
notwithstanding the person receives no reward for his or her labour.
(6) In this
Part –
“employment” includes any work within the meaning of the
Control of Housing and Work
(Jersey) Law 2012; and
“guardian”, in relation to a child, includes a person
who has for the time being the care of the child.[31]
49 Offences
in connection with employment of children
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2)
and (3), if a child is employed in contravention of Article 48 or any
Order made thereunder, the employer and any person (other than the child) to
whose act or default the contravention is attributable shall be guilty of an
offence and liable to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
(2) If proceedings are
brought under this Article against the employer, on giving the prosecution not
less than 3 days’ notice of his or her intention, the employer shall be
entitled to have any person (other than the child) to whose act or default he
or she alleges that the contravention was due, brought before the court as a
party to the proceedings.
(3) If, after the
contravention has been proved, the employer proves that the contravention was
due to the act or default of the person made a party to the proceedings under
paragraph (2), that person may be convicted of the offence, and if the
employer further proves that he or she used all due diligence to secure that
the provisions in question should be complied with, the employer shall be acquitted
of the offence.
(4) Where an employer seeks
to avail himself or herself of paragraphs (2) and (3) –
(a) the
prosecution shall have the right to cross-examine the employer (if the employer
gives evidence) and any witness called by the employer in support of his or her
allegations, and to call rebutting evidence; and
(b) the
court may make such order as it thinks fit for the payment of costs by any
party to the proceedings to any such other party.
(5) If a person fails to
comply with the requirements of a notice served on him or her under Article 48(3),
the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of level 2 on the
standard scale.
50 Restrictions
on children taking part in performances
(1) Subject to the
provisions of this Article, a child under the age of 16 years shall not take
part in a performance to which this Article applies except under the authority
of a licence granted by the Minister.
(2) This Article applies
to –
(a) any
performance in connection with which a charge is made (whether for admission or
otherwise);
(b) any
performance in licensed premises within the meaning of the Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974;
(c) any broadcast
or television performance;
(d) any
performance not falling within sub-paragraph (c) but included in a
programme service; and
(e) any
performance recorded (by whatever means) with a view to its use in a broadcast,
a programme service or in a film intended for public exhibition,
and a child shall be treated for the purposes of this Article as
taking part in a performance if he or she takes the place of a performer in any
rehearsal or in any preparation for the recording of the performance.
(3) A licence under this
Article shall not be required for any child to take part in a performance to
which this Article applies if –
(a) in
the 6 months preceding the performance the child has not taken part in other
performances to which this Article applies on more than 3 days; or
(b) the
performance is given under arrangements made by a school or by a body of
persons approved for the purposes of this Article by the Minister, and no
payment in respect of the child’s taking part in the performance is made,
whether to the child or to any other person, except for defraying expenses,
but the Minister may by Order prescribe conditions to be observed
with respect to the age, hours of work, rest or meals of children taking part
in any performance for which a licence is not required in accordance with
sub-paragraph (a).
(4) The Minister may grant
a licence for a child to take part in a performance or series of performances
if the Minister is satisfied that –
(a) the
child is fit to do so;
(b) proper
provision has been made to secure the child’s health and welfare; and
(c) having
regard to such provision (if any) as has been or will be made under
sub-paragraph (b), the child’s education will not suffer.
51 Supplementary
provisions as to licences
(1) The Minister may, on
the application of the holder, vary a licence granted under Article 50.
(2) The Minister may,
having given such notice (if any) as may be practicable in the circumstances,
vary or revoke the licence if –
(a) any
condition subject to which it was granted is not observed; or
(b) if it
is not satisfied as to the matters mentioned in Article 50(4).
(3) The licence holder
shall keep such records as the Minister may prescribe by Order and shall
produce them on request to an officer of an administration of the States for
which the Minister is assigned responsibility, at any time not later than 6
months after the performance or last performance to which it relates.
(4) Where the Minister
refuses an application for a licence under Article 50 or revokes or,
otherwise than on the application of the holder, varies such a licence, the
Minister shall give written reasons for doing so to the applicant or licence
holder as the case may be.
(5) The applicant or
licence holder may appeal to the court against the refusal, revocation or
variation of a licence, or against any condition subject to which it was
granted or any approval is given (not being a condition which the Minister was
required to impose) on the ground that the refusal, revocation or variation or
the imposition of the condition, as the case may be, was unreasonable having
regard to all the circumstances of the case.
52 Offences
in connection with performances by children
(1) If any
person –
(a) causes
or procures any child under the age of 16 years or, being the child’s
parent or guardian, allows the child, to take part in any performance in
contravention of Article 50;
(b) fails
to observe any condition subject to which a licence under that Article is
granted, or any condition prescribed by an Order made under paragraph (3)
of that Article; or
(c) knowingly
or recklessly makes any false statement in or in connection with an application
for a licence under that Article,
the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment
for a term of 3 months and to a fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
(2) If any person fails to
keep or produce any record which he or she is required to keep or produce under
Article 51, the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine
of level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) Where the holder of a
licence granted under Article 50 is convicted of an offence under this
Article the court may revoke the licence.
(4) In any proceedings for
an offence under paragraph (1)(a) it shall be a defence to prove that the
accused believed that the condition specified in Article 50(3)(a) was
satisfied and that he or she had reasonable grounds for that belief.
53 Power
of entry
(1) If it appears to the
Minister that there is reasonable cause to believe that the provisions of this
Part, or of any Order made thereunder, are being contravened with respect to
any person, any officer of an administration of the States for which the
Minister is assigned responsibility may, subject to the production by the
officer of his or her authority, enter any place in connection with which the
child in question is, or is believed to be, employed or taking part in a
performance as the case may be, and make enquiries with respect to that child.
(2) A person who
intentionally obstructs an officer in the exercise of any power conferred on
the officer by paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a
fine of level 3 on the standard scale.
PART 7[32]
PART 8
PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FOSTERING CHILDREN
58 Meaning
of privately fostered child
(1) In this Law “
privately fostered child” means, subject to the following provisions of
this Article, a child under the age of 16 years who is cared for and provided
with accommodation for a period which has exceeded or which is intended to
exceed 28 days by a person other than –
(a) a
parent of the child;
(b) a
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child; or
(c) a
relative of the child.
(2) A child is not a
privately fostered child while he or she –
(a) is
being looked after by the Minister;
(b) is in
the care of any person in premises in which any –
(i) parent of the
child,
(ii) person
who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for the
child, or
(iii) person
who is a relative of the child and who has assumed responsibility for the
child’s care,
is for the time being living;
(c) is in
the care of any person in any children’s home;
(d)
(e) is in
the care of any person in any school where he or she is receiving full-time
education;
(f) is
in the care of any person in a hospital;
(g) is in
the care of any person in any home consisting of a care home service or any
nursing home;
(h) is
liable to be detained under Part 3 of the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016; or
(j) he
or she is placed in the care of a person who proposes to adopt him or her under
arrangements made by the Adoption Service pursuant to the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961 or he or she is a protected
child within the meaning of Article 33 of that Law.[33]
(3) In this Part “to
foster a child privately” means to look after a child in circumstances in
which the child is a privately fostered child.
59 Notification
in respect of privately fostered children
(1) A person who proposes
to foster a child privately who is not already in the person’s care shall
notify the Minister not less than 2 weeks before the person receives the child
unless the person receives the child in an emergency.
(2) A person who fosters a
child privately whom the person received in an emergency or who became a
privately fostered child while in his or her care shall notify the Minister not
less than one week after the fostering arrangements began.
(3) A notice given under
paragraph (1) or (2) shall be in writing and shall specify the premises in
which the child is to be or is being accommodated.
(4) Where a person who
fosters a child privately changes his or her permanent address or the premises
in which the child is being accommodated, the person shall, not less than
2 weeks before the change, or, if the change is made in an emergency, not
later than one week after the change, give written notice to the Minister,
specifying the new address or premises.
(5) If a privately fostered
child dies or is removed or removes himself or herself from the care of the
person maintaining the child, that person shall, within 48 hours of such
an event, give to the Minister and to the person from whom the child was
received written notice of the death or removal and, in the case of a removal,
the notice shall state, if known, the name and address of such person (if any)
into whose care the child has been removed or received.
(6) Where a privately
fostered child ceases to be such on his or her removal from the care of the
person maintaining the child that person shall, if so requested by the
Minister, inform the Minister of the name and address of such person (if any)
into whose care the child has been removed or received.
(7) The Minister may exempt
any person from the duty of giving notices under this Article, and any such
exemption may be granted as regards all or any such notices for a specified
period, and may be revoked at any time by notice in writing given to that
person.
(8) A person who fosters or
proposes to foster a child privately shall at the request of the Minister
supply to the Minister –
(a) the
name, sex and date and place of birth of the child; and
(b) the
name and address of any parent of the child and of any other person who has
parental responsibility for the child and (if different) of any person from
whom the child was, or is to be, received.
60 Power
of Minister to impose requirements and prohibitions
(1) Where a person fosters
or proposes to foster any children privately, the Minister may impose on the
person requirements as to –
(a) the
number, age and sex of the children who may be privately fostered by the
person;
(b) the
standard of the accommodation and equipment to be provided for them;
(c) the
arrangements to be made with respect to their health and welfare;
(d) the
giving of particulars of the person for the time being in charge of them;
(e) the
number, qualifications or experience of the persons employed in looking after
the children; and
(f) the
keeping of records.
(2) A requirement under
paragraph (1) may be limited to a particular child or class of child and
(except in the case of a requirement imposed under sub-paragraph (a) of
that paragraph) may be limited by the Minister so as to apply only when the
number of children maintained by the person exceeds a specified number.
(3) Where a person fosters
or proposes to foster a child privately and the Minister is of the opinion
that –
(a) he or
she is not a suitable person to do so;
(b) the
premises in which the child is being, or will be, accommodated are not
suitable; or
(c) it
would be prejudicial to the welfare of the child for the child to be, or
continue to be, accommodated by that person in those premises,
the Minister may prohibit the person from maintaining any child in
any premises, any child in premises specified in the prohibition, or any child
identified in the prohibition in premises specified in the prohibition.
(4) The Minister may cancel
a prohibition imposed under paragraph (3) of his or her own motion or on
the application of the person to whom it is addressed if the Minister is
satisfied that it is no longer justified.
(5) Where the Minister
imposes a requirement on any person under paragraph (1), the Minister may
impose a prohibition on the person under paragraph (3).
(6) Any prohibition imposed
by virtue of paragraph (5) shall not have effect unless the time specified
for complying with the requirement has expired without it having been complied
with.
(7) Any requirement or
prohibition imposed under this Article shall be imposed by giving notice in
writing to the person on whom it is imposed and informing the person
of –
(a) the
reasons for the imposition;
(b) his
or her right of appeal under Article 63; and
(c) the
time within which he or she may appeal.
61 Functions
of Minister in relation to welfare of privately fostered children
(1) The Minister
shall –
(a) satisfy
himself or herself that the welfare of all privately fostered children is being
satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted;
(b) give
such advice as to the care and maintenance of such children as he or she
considers necessary; and
(c) arrange
for such children to be visited from time to time in the interests of their
welfare.
(2) Where the Minister is
not satisfied that the welfare of any privately fostered child is being
satisfactorily safeguarded or promoted, the Minister shall –
(a) unless
he or she considers that it would not be in the best interests of the child,
take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that the care and
accommodation of the child is undertaken by –
(i) a parent of the
child’s,
(ii) any
person who is not a parent of the child’s but who has parental
responsibility for the child, or
(iii) a
relative of the child’s; and
(b) consider
the extent to which (if at all) the Minister should exercise any of his or her
functions with respect to the child.
(3) Any officer of an
administration of the States for which the Minister is assigned responsibility
may, subject to the production by the officer if so required of evidence of the
officer’s authority, enter and inspect any premises in which privately
fostered children are to be or are being accommodated and any children there.
62 Disqualification
for fostering a child privately
A person shall not foster a child privately if he or she is
disqualified for doing so by virtue of Schedule 4 unless he or she has
disclosed the disqualification to the Minister and obtained the
Minister’s consent.
63 Appeals
(1) Any person aggrieved
by –
(a) a
requirement or prohibition imposed under Article 60; or
(b) a
refusal of consent under Article 62,
may, within 14 days from the date on which he or she is
notified of the requirement, prohibition or refusal, appeal to the court, and,
where the appeal is against such a requirement, the requirement shall not have
effect while the appeal is pending.
(2) Where the court allows
an appeal against a requirement or prohibition, it may, instead of cancelling
the requirement or prohibition –
(a) vary
the requirement or allow more time for compliance with it; or
(b) if an
absolute prohibition has been imposed, substitute for it a prohibition on using
the premises after such time as the court may specify unless such specified
requirements as the Minister had power to impose under Article 60 are
complied with.
(3) Any requirement or
prohibition specified or substituted by the court under this Article shall be
deemed for the purposes of this Part (other than this Article) to have been
imposed by the Minister under Article 60.
64 Extension
of this Part to certain children over 16
Where a child is a privately fostered child when he or she attains
the age of 16 years, this Part shall continue to apply to the
child –
(a) if the child is
disabled and under full age; or
(b) until the earliest of
the following events –
(i) the
child would, apart from attaining that age, have ceased to be a privately
fostered child,
(ii) the
child reaches full age, or
(iii) the
child lives elsewhere than with the person with whom the child was living when he
or she attained that age.
65 Offences
If any person –
(a) being required under
any provision of this Part, to give any notice or information –
(i) fails
without reasonable excuse to give the notice within the time there specified,
(ii) fails
without reasonable excuse to give the information within a reasonable time, or
(iii) makes,
or causes or procures another person to make, any statement in the notice or
information which he or she knows to be false or misleading in a material
particular;
(b) refuses to allow a duly
authorized officer of an administration of the States for which the Minister is
assigned responsibility to visit a privately fostered child or intentionally
obstructs such an officer in the exercise of any power conferred on the officer
by Article 61(3);
(c) fails without
reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed by the Minister under
this Part or accommodates a privately fostered child in any premises in
contravention of a prohibition so imposed;
(d) contravenes Article 62;
or
(e) directly or indirectly
insures the life of any privately fostered child maintained by the person,
the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of
level 3 on the standard scale.
PART 9
MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL
66 Effect
and duration of orders
(1) The making of a
residence order with respect to a child who is the subject of a care order
discharges the care order.
(2) The making of a care
order with respect to a child who is the subject of any Article 10 order
or a supervision order discharges that other order.
(3) Where an emergency
protection order is made with respect to a child who is in care, the care order
shall have effect subject to the emergency protection order.
(4) Any –
(a) order
made under Article 5(1) or (2) or 7(1);
(b) agreement
under Article 5;
(c) appointment
under Article 7(3) or (4); or
(d) care
order other than an interim order,
shall continue in force until the child reaches full age, unless it
is brought to an end earlier.
(5) An order under Schedule 1
has effect as specified in that Schedule.
(6) An Article 10
order shall, if it would otherwise still be in force, cease to have effect when
the child reaches full age, unless it is to have effect beyond that age by
virtue of Article 11(6)(a).
(7) Any order made under
any other provision of this Law in relation to a child shall, if it would
otherwise still be in force, cease to have effect when he or she reaches full
age.
(8) On disposing of any
application for an order under this Law, the court may (whether or not it makes
any other order in response to the application) order that no application for
an order under this Law of any specified kind may be made with respect to the
child concerned by any person named in the order without leave of the court.
(9) Where an application
(the “previous application”) has been made for –
(a) the
discharge of a care order or supervision order;
(b) the
substitution of a supervision order for a care order; or
(c) a
child assessment order,
no further application of a kind mentioned in paragraphs (a) to
(c) may be made with respect to the child concerned, without leave of the
court, unless the period between the disposal of the previous application and
the making of the further application exceeds 6 months.
(10) Paragraph (9) does not
apply to applications made in relation to interim orders.
(11) Where an application for an
order under Article 27 has been refused, no further application may be
made with respect to the same child within 6 months of such refusal without
leave of the court.
67 Rules
of Court
(1) Rules of Court to give
effect to this Law, any enactment made under this Law or any amendment made by
this Law to any other enactment, may be made by –
(a) the
Superior Number of the Royal Court, with the advice and assistance of the Rules
Committee; or
(b) if
the Criminal Procedure Rules Committee considers it appropriate, the Criminal
Procedure Rules Committee.[34]
(2) Rules of Court made
under this Article may, in particular, make provision –
(a) with
respect to the procedure to be followed in any relevant proceedings (including
the manner in which any application is to be made or other proceedings
commenced);
(b) as to
the persons entitled to participate in any relevant proceedings, whether as
parties to the proceedings or by being given the opportunity to make
representations to the court;
(c) with
respect to the documents and information to be furnished, and notices to be
given, in connection with any relevant proceedings;
(d) with
respect to preliminary hearings;
(e) for
the service outside Jersey in such circumstances and in such manner as may be
prescribed, of any notice of proceedings in the court;
(f) enabling
the court, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to proceed on any
application even though the respondent has not been given notice of the
proceedings; and
(g) authorizing
the Judicial Greffier to discharge the functions of the court with respect to
such relevant proceedings as may be prescribed.
(3) In paragraph (2) –
“notice of proceedings” means a summons or such other
notice of proceedings as is required; and “given” in relation to a
summons, means “served”;
“relevant proceedings” means any application made, or
proceedings brought, under any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (1)
and any part of such proceedings.
(4) This Article and any
other power in this Law to make Rules of Court are not to be taken as in any
way limiting any other power of the Superior Number of the Royal Court to make
Rules of Court.
68 Appeals
(1) Subject to any express
provisions to the contrary made by or under this Law, an appeal shall
lie –
(a) where
the Judicial Greffier is exercising the functions of the court in accordance
with Rules of Court, to the court; and
(b) in
any other case, to the Court of Appeal,
against the making or refusal to make any order under this Law other
than in relation to an interim order for periodical payments under Schedule 1.
(2) On an appeal under this
Article, the court hearing the appeal may make such orders as may be necessary
to give effect to its determination of the appeal, and where it makes any such
order it may also make such incidental or consequential orders as appear to it
to be just.
(3) Where an appeal relates
to an order for the making of periodical payments, the court hearing the appeal
may order that its determination of the appeal shall have effect from such date
as it thinks fit to specify in the order provided that such date must not be
earlier than the earliest date allowed in accordance with Rules of Court made
for the purposes of this Article.
(4) Where, on an appeal
under this Article in respect of an order requiring a person to make periodical
payments, the court hearing the appeal reduces the amount of those payments or
discharges the order –
(a) it
may order the person entitled to the payments to pay to the person making them
such sum in respect of payments already made as it thinks fit; and
(b) if
any arrears are due under the order for periodical payments, it may remit
payment of the whole, or part, of those arrears.
(5) Any order of the Court
of Appeal made on an appeal under this Article (other than one directing that
an application be re-heard) shall, for the purposes of the enforcement of the
order and any power to vary, revive or discharge orders, be treated as if it
were an order of the court.
69 Attendance
at court of person with parental responsibility for child who is the subject of
proceedings under Part 4
Where a child is the subject of an application for a care or
supervision order under Part 4, any person who has parental responsibility
for the child may be required to attend court during all the stages of the
proceedings, and any such person shall be so required at any stage where the
court thinks it desirable, unless the court is satisfied that it would be
unreasonable to require his or her attendance.
70 Attendance
at court of child at hearing under Parts 2, 4 or 5
(1) In any proceedings in
which the court is hearing an application for an order under Part 2, 4 or
5, or is considering whether to make any such order, the court may order the
child concerned to attend such stage or stages of the proceedings as may be
specified in the order.
(2) The power conferred by
paragraph (1) shall be exercised in accordance with Rules of Court.
(3) Where an order under paragraph (1)
has not been complied with or the court has reasonable cause to believe that it
will not be complied with, the court may make an order –
(a) authorizing
a police officer or such other person as may be specified in the
order –
(i) to take charge of
the child and to bring the child to the court, and
(ii) to
enter and search any premises specified in the order if the officer has
reasonable cause to believe that the child may be found on the premises;
(b) requiring
any person who is in a position to do so to bring the child to the court; or
(c) requiring
a person to disclose to the court any information which it has reason to
believe he or she has concerning the whereabouts of the child.
71 Evidence
given by, or with respect to, children
(1) Where a child who is
called as a witness in any civil proceedings does not, in the opinion of the
court, understand the nature of an oath, the court may hear the child’s
evidence if it considers that –
(a) the
child understands that it is his or her duty to speak the truth; and
(b) the
child has sufficient understanding to justify his or her evidence being heard.
(2) The Superior Number of
the Royal Court may, by Rules of Court, make provision for the admissibility of
evidence which would otherwise be inadmissible under any rule of law relating
to hearsay with respect to –
(a) civil
proceedings in general or such civil proceedings, or class of civil
proceedings, as may be prescribed; and
(b) evidence
in connection with the upbringing, maintenance or welfare of a child.
(3) Rules of Court under
paragraph (2) –
(a) may,
in particular, provide for the admissibility of statements which are made
orally or in a prescribed form or which are recorded by any prescribed method
of recording;
(b) may
make different provision for different purposes;
(c) may
make such amendments and repeals in any enactment relating to evidence (other
than this Law) as the Superior Number considers necessary or expedient in
consequence of the provision made by the Rules.
72 Power
of court to order scientific tests in cases of disputed parentage
(1) For the purpose of any
proceedings in which the parentage of a child falls to be determined, the court
may, on an application by any party to the proceedings, give a
direction –
(a) for
the use of scientific tests for the purpose of facilitating such determination;
and
(b) for
the taking of bodily samples from the child, any person alleged to be a parent
of the child and any other party to the proceedings,
and the court may at any time revoke or vary a direction previously
given by it under this paragraph.
(2) The person responsible
for carrying out scientific tests in pursuance of a direction under paragraph (1)
shall report to the court –
(a) the
results of the tests;
(b) whether
any person to whom the report relates is or is not excluded by the results from
being a parent of the child; and
(c) in
relation to any party who is not so excluded, the value, if any, of the results
in determining whether that party is a parent of the child.
(3) Rules of Court may make
further provision with respect to a direction or report given under this
Article.
(4) The costs of taking and
testing bodily samples and reporting to the court in pursuance of this Article
shall be paid by the party requesting the direction but the amount paid shall
be treated as costs incurred by the party in the proceedings.
(5) A bodily sample which
is required to be taken from any person for the purpose of giving effect to a
direction under paragraph (1) –
(a) in
the case of a person over the age of 16 years of full mental capacity, shall
only be taken with his or her consent;
(b) in
the case of a child under the age of 16 years, shall only be taken with the
consent of a person who has parental responsibility for the child; and
(c) in
the case of a person suffering from a mental disorder and incapable of
understanding the nature and purpose of scientific tests, shall only be
taken –
(i) with the consent
of his or her nearest person or, if the person so suffering has been the
subject of a guardianship application, the person named in that application as
guardian, and
(ii) if
the responsible medical officer has certified that the taking of a bodily
sample from the person will not be prejudicial to his or her proper care and
treatment.[35]
(6) Where the court
considers that a person with parental responsibility for a child or a nearest person
is unreasonably withholding consent under paragraph (5)(b) or (c) as the
case may be, it may dispense with the need for that consent.[36]
(7) Where the court gives a
direction under paragraph (1) and a person fails to take any step required
of him or her for the purpose of giving effect to the direction, the court may
draw such inferences, if any, from that fact as appear proper in the
circumstances.
(8) Where any person named
in a direction under paragraph (1) fails to consent to the taking of a
bodily sample from himself or herself or from any person named in the direction
of whom he or she has the care and control, the person shall be deemed for the
purposes of this Article to have failed to take a step required of him or her
for the purpose of giving effect to the direction.
(9) A person who, for the
purpose of providing a bodily sample for a test required under paragraph (1),
personates another or proffers a child knowing that it is not the child named
in the direction shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a
term of 2 years and to a fine.
(10) In this Article –
“bodily sample” means a sample of bodily fluid or bodily
tissue taken for the purpose of scientific tests;
“excluded” means excluded subject to the occurrence of
mutation;
“guardianship application”, “mental
disorder”, “nearest person” and “responsible medical
officer” shall have the same respective meanings as in the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016;
“scientific tests” means scientific tests carried out
under this Article and made with the object of ascertaining the inheritable
characteristics of bodily fluids or bodily tissue.[37]
73 Privacy
for children involved in certain proceedings
(1) Without prejudice to
any other rule-making power or power of the court to sit in private, Rules of
Court may make provision for the court to sit in private in proceedings in
which any powers under this Law may be exercised by the court with respect to
any child.
(2) Any person who
publishes any material which is intended, or likely, to identify –
(a) any
child as being concerned in any proceedings before any court either as being a
child against or in respect of whom the proceedings are taken or as being a
witness in those proceedings; or
(b) an
address or school as being that of a child involved in any such proceedings,
except in so far (if at all) as the court hearing those proceedings,
having regard to the interest of justice and the welfare of the child
concerned, directs, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of level
3 on the standard scale.
(3) In any proceedings for
an offence under this Article it shall be a defence for the accused to prove
that he or she did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the published
material was intended, or likely, to identify the child.
(4) For the purposes of
this Article –
“publish” includes –
(a) include
within a programme service; or
(b) cause
to be published; and
“material” includes any picture or representation.
74 Self-incrimination
(1) In any proceedings in
which a court is hearing an application for an order under Part 4 or 5, no
person shall be excused from –
(a) giving
evidence on any matter; or
(b) answering
any question put to the person in the course of his or her giving evidence,
on the ground that doing so might incriminate the person or his or
her spouse or civil partner of an offence.[38]
(2) A statement or
admission made in such proceedings shall not be admissible in evidence against
the person making it or his or her spouse or civil partner in proceedings for
an offence other than perjury.[39]
75 Representation
and assistance for children
(1) Where it considers it
desirable in the interests of a child to do so the court may order –
(a) that
the child be separately represented in such proceedings under this Law as the
court may specify; or
(b) that
the child be assisted and befriended by such person, being a person independent
from the Minister, as the court may specify.
(2) Where a child is
empowered to bring any proceedings under this Law –
(a) the
child may not do so without leave of the court and the court may only grant
leave if it is satisfied that the child has sufficient understanding to bring
those proceedings; and
(b) the
child may only act through a guardian ad litem appointed by the court.
(3) Without prejudice to
any other power of the court to make an order for costs against any party to
proceedings, where a child has been granted legal representation under a legal
aid certificate for any proceedings under this Law, the court may order that
the costs of such representation be paid –
(a) out
of public funds; or
(b) where
he or she has been given an opportunity to be heard on the question of costs,
by any person with parental responsibility for the child who is not a party to
the proceedings.
(4) The amount of costs
that the court has ordered to be paid under paragraph (1) shall be
determined in accordance with Rules of Court made under the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948 and where the costs are to
be paid out of public funds, such amount shall be paid from the annual income
of the States.
76 Restriction
on court’s inherent jurisdiction
The court shall not exercise its inherent jurisdiction with respect
to children –
(a) so as to require a
child to be placed in care or put under the supervision of the Minister;
(b) so as to require a
child to be accommodated by or on behalf of the Minister; or
(c) for the purpose of
conferring on the Minister power to determine any question which has arisen, or
which may arise, in connection with any aspect of parental responsibility for a
child.
77 Effect
of orders as between Jersey and any other part of the British Islands
(1) An order made by a
court in any other part of the British Islands which is of a class of orders
that the Minister has, by Order, designated as corresponding in effect to such
an order which may be made under this Law as may be specified in the Order,
shall have effect for the purposes of this Law in Jersey as if it had been made
under the corresponding provision of this Law.
(2) Where a child who is in
the care of the Minister is lawfully taken to live in any other part of the
British Islands, the care order in question shall cease to have effect
if –
(a) the
court has given its approval under paragraph 4(1)(a) of Schedule 2 to
the Minister arranging or assisting in arranging for the child to live in another
part of the British Islands;
(b) the
local authority in whose area the child has been taken to live has notified the
court in writing that it agrees to receive the child into its care; and
(c) the
Minister has notified the court that the Minister agrees to that local
authority receiving the child into its care.
(3) In this Article
“local authority” has the same meaning as in paragraph 9(4) of
Schedule 2.
78 Warrants
(1) Where, on an
application made by any person, it appears to the Bailiff that a person has
been, or is likely to be, prevented from exercising his or her powers
under –
(a) Articles 43,
53, 57 or 61;
(b) paragraph
6(1)(b) and (2)(b) of Schedule 3;
(c) Article 35
of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961; or
(d) Article 11
of the Day Care of Children (Jersey)
Law 2002,
by being refused entry to the premises concerned or refused access
to the child concerned, the Bailiff may issue a warrant authorizing any police
officer, at any time or times within one month from the date of that warrant,
to assist the person named in the warrant in the exercise of his or her powers,
using reasonable force if necessary.[40]
(2) Every warrant issued
under this Article shall be addressed to, and executed by, a police officer who
shall be accompanied by –
(a) if
the Bailiff does not direct otherwise, the person applying for the warrant if
that person so desires; and
(b) if
the Bailiff so directs, a registered medical practitioner or such other person
as the Bailiff may specify.
(3) The person named in the
warrant shall immediately inform the Connétable or a Centenier of the
parish in which the premises are situated of the details of the warrant and thereafter
may exercise his or her powers under the warrant at any time during its
currency.
(4) An application for a
warrant under this Article shall be made in the manner and form prescribed.
(5) The application and any
warrant granted on the application shall, where it is reasonably practical to
do so, name the child, and where it does not name the child it shall describe
the child as clearly as possible.
79 Abolition
of defence of reasonable corporal punishment[41]
(1) Any defence of
reasonable corporal punishment of a child under customary law is abolished.
(2) Accordingly, corporal
punishment of a child cannot be justified in any civil or criminal proceedings
on the grounds that it constituted, for the purposes of any rule of customary
law –
(a) reasonable
punishment; or
(b) acceptable
conduct.
(3) In this Article, “corporal
punishment” means, in relation to a child, administering a physical act
on the person of a child for the purpose of punishing that child (whether or
not there are other reasons for administering the act) which would constitute
assault.
80 General
provisions as to offences[42]
(1) Where an offence under
this Law committed by a limited liability partnership or body corporate is
proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be
attributable to any neglect on the part of –
(a) a
person who is a partner of the partnership, or director, manager, secretary or
other similar officer of the body corporate; or
(b) any
person purporting to act in any such capacity,
the person shall also be guilty of the offence and liable in the
same manner as the partnership or body corporate to the penalty provided for
that offence.
(2) Where the affairs of a
body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) shall apply in
relation to acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s
functions of management as if he or she were a director of the body corporate.
(3) Any person who aids,
abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence under this Law shall
also be guilty of an offence and liable in the same manner as a principal
offender to the penalty provided for that offence.
81 Regulations
and Orders
(1) Any Regulations or
Order made under this Law may –
(a) make
different provision in relation to different cases or circumstances;
(b) provide
for exemptions from any of its provisions; and
(c) contain
such incidental, supplemental and transitional provisions as appear to the
States or the Minister, as the case may be, to be necessary or expedient for
the purposes of the Regulations or Order.
(2) [43]
82 Transitional
provisions and savings
(1) The transitional
provisions and savings contained in Schedule 5 shall have effect.
(2) The customary law
action for pension alimentaire is abolished.
(3) The States may by
Regulations make such amendments or repeals, in such enactments as may be
specified in the Regulations, as they consider necessary or expedient in
connection with, or in consequence of, any provision of this Law.
83 Citation
This Law may be cited as the Children (Jersey) Law 2002.
Schedule 1[44]
(Article 15)
Financial provision for children
1 Orders
for financial relief against parents
(1) On
an application made by a parent or guardian of a child, or by any person in
whose favour a residence order is in force with respect to the child, the court
may at any time make an order requiring one or more of the
following –
(a) either
or both parents of a child –
(i) to make such
periodical payments and for such term,
(ii) to
secure such periodical payments and for such term,
(iii) to
pay such lump sum, and
(iv) to
transfer such property to which the parent is or the parents are entitled,
as may be specified in the order to the applicant for the benefit of
the child or to the child personally; and
(b) a
settlement to be made for the benefit of the child and to the satisfaction of
the court of property to which either parent is entitled and which is specified
in the order.
(2) An order under
sub-paragraph (1)(a)(i) or (ii) may be varied or discharged by a
subsequent order made on the application of any person by or to whom payments
were required to be made under the previous order.
(3) Where the court makes
an order under this paragraph –
(a) it
may at any time make a further such order under sub-paragraph (1)(a)(i), (ii)
or (iii) with respect to the child concerned if he or she has not reached full
age; and
(b) it
may not make more than one order under sub-paragraph (1)(a)(iv) or (b)
against the same person in respect of the same child.
(4) On making, varying or discharging
a residence order the court may exercise any of its powers under this Schedule
even though no application has been made to it under this Schedule.
2 Orders
for financial relief for persons over 16 years
(1) If, on an application
made with leave of the court by a person who has reached the age of 16, it
appears to the court –
(a) that
the applicant is, will be or (if an order were made under this paragraph) would
be receiving instruction at an educational establishment or undergoing training
for a trade, profession or vocation, whether or not while in gainful
employment; or
(b) that
there are special circumstances which justify the making of an order under this
paragraph,
the court may at any time make an order requiring either or both of
the applicant’s parents to pay to the applicant such periodical payments,
for such term as may be so specified, such lump sum as may be so specified or
both periodical payments and a lump sum.
(2) An order for periodical
payments under sub-paragraph (1) may be varied or discharged by a
subsequent order made on the application of any person by or to whom payments
were required to be made under the previous order.
(3) Where the court makes
an order under this paragraph it may from time to time while that order remains
in force make a further such order.
3 Duration
of orders for financial relief
(1) The term to be
specified in an order for periodical payments made under
paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) or (ii) in favour of a child may begin with the date
of the making of an application for the order in question or any later date
but –
(a) shall
not in the first instance extend beyond the child’s 17th birthday unless
the court thinks it right in the circumstances of the case to specify a later
date; and
(b) shall
not in any event extend beyond the child’s 18th birthday.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(b)
shall not apply in the case of a child if it appears to the court
that –
(a) the
child is, or will be or (if an order were made without complying with that
paragraph) would be receiving instruction at an educational establishment or
undergoing training for a trade, profession or vocation, whether or not while
in gainful employment; or
(b) there
are special circumstances which justify the making of an order without
complying with that paragraph.
(3) An order for periodical
payments shall, notwithstanding anything in the order, cease to have effect on
the death of the person liable to make payments under the order.
(4) Where an order is made
under paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) or (ii) requiring periodical payments to be made or
secured to the parent of a child, the order shall cease to have effect if the
parent making or securing the payments and the parent receiving such payments
have lived together for more than 6 months.
4 Matters
to which court is to have regard in making orders for financial relief
(1) In deciding whether to
exercise its powers under paragraph 1 or 2, and if so in what manner, the court
shall have regard to all the circumstances including –
(a) the
income, earning capacity, property and other financial resources which each
person mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) has or is likely to have in the
foreseeable future;
(b) the
financial needs, obligations and responsibilities which each person mentioned
in sub-paragraph (4) has or is likely to have in the foreseeable future;
(c) the
financial needs of the child;
(d) the
income, earning capacity (if any), property and other financial resources of
the child;
(e) any
physical or mental disability of the child; and
(f) the
manner in which the child was being, or was expected to be, educated or
trained.
(2) In deciding whether to
exercise its powers under paragraph 1 against a person who is not the
mother or father of the child, and if so in what manner, the court shall in
addition have regard to –
(a) whether
that person had assumed responsibility for the maintenance of the child and, if
so, the extent to which and basis on which the person assumed that
responsibility and the length of the period during which he or she met that
responsibility;
(b) whether
the person did so knowing that the child was not his or her child; and
(c) the
liability of any other person to maintain the child.
(3) Where the court makes
an order under paragraph 1 against a person who is not the father of the child,
it shall record in the order that the order is made on the basis that the
person against whom the order is made is not the child’s father.
(4) The persons mentioned
in sub-paragraph (1) are –
(a) in
relation to a decision whether to exercise its powers under paragraph 1, any
parent of the child;
(b) in
relation to a decision whether to exercise its powers under paragraph 2, the
mother and father of the child;
(c) the
applicant for the order; and
(d) any
other person in whose favour the court proposes to make the order.
5 Provisions
relating to lump sums
(1) Without prejudice to
the generality of paragraph 1, an order under that paragraph for the payment of
a lump sum may be made for the purpose of enabling any liabilities or expenses
reasonably incurred before the making of the order to be met which were
incurred in connection with the birth of the child or in maintaining the child.
(2) The power of the court
under paragraph 1 –
(a) to
vary or discharge an order for the making or securing of periodical payments by
a parent shall include power to make an order under that provision for the
payment of a lump sum by that parent; and
(b) for
the payment of a lump sum may provide for the payment of that sum by
instalments.
(3) Where the court
provides for the payment of a lump sum by instalments, the court, on an
application made either by the person liable to pay or the person entitled to
receive that sum, shall have power to vary that order by varying the number and
amount of any instalments payable and the date on which any instalment becomes
payable.
6 Exercise
of powers to make orders for periodical payments
(1) In exercising its
powers under paragraph 1 or 2 to vary or discharge an order for the making or
securing of periodical payments the court shall have regard to all the
circumstances of the case, including any change in any of the matters to which
the court was required to have regard when making the order.
(2) The power of the court
under paragraph 1 or 2 to vary an order for the making or securing of
periodical payments shall include power to suspend any provision of the order
temporarily and to revive any provision so suspended.
(3) Where on an application
under paragraph 1 or 2 for the variation or discharge of an order for the
making or securing of periodical payments the court varies the payments
required to be made under that order, the court may provide that the payments
as so varied shall be made from such date as the court may specify, not being
earlier than the date of the making of the application.
(4) An application for the
variation of an order made under paragraph 1 for the making or securing of periodical
payments to or for the benefit of a child may, if the child has reached the age
of 16, be made by the child personally.
(5) Where an order for the
making or securing of periodical payments under paragraph 1 ceases to have
effect on the date on which the child reaches the age of 16, or at any time
after that date but before or on the date on which the child reaches full age,
the child may apply to the court which made the order for an order for its
revival or revival and variation in accordance with sub-paragraph (6).
(6) If on an application
under sub-paragraph (5) it appears to the court that –
(a) the
child is, will be or (if an order were made under this sub-paragraph) would be
receiving instruction at an educational establishment or undergoing training
for a trade, profession or vocation, whether or not in gainful employment; or
(b) there
are special circumstances which justify the making of an order under this
paragraph,
the court shall have power by order to revive the order or revive
and vary it so that it is made against a parent other than the parent against
whom it is made, from such date as the court may specify, not being earlier
than the date of the making of the application.
(7) Any order which is
revived or revived and varied by an order under sub-paragraph (5) may be
varied or discharged under that provision, on the application of any person by
whom or to whom payments are required to be made under the revived or revived
and varied order.
(8) An order for the making
or securing of periodical payments made under paragraph 1 may be varied or
discharged, after the death of either parent, on the application of a guardian
of the child concerned.
7 Financial
relief under other enactments
(1) This paragraph applies
where a residence order is made with respect to a child at a time when there is
in force an order (the “financial relief order”) made under any
enactment other than this Law and requiring a person to contribute to the
child’s maintenance.
(2) Where this paragraph
applies, the court may, on the application of –
(a) any
person required by the financial relief order to contribute to the
child’s maintenance; or
(b) any
person in whose favour a residence order with respect to the child is in force,
make an order revoking the financial relief order, or varying it by
altering the amount of any sum payable under that order or by substituting the
applicant for the person to whom any such sum is otherwise payable under that
order.
8 Interim
orders
(1) Where an application is
made under paragraph 1 or 2 the court may, at any time before it disposes of
the application, make an interim order –
(a) requiring
either or both parents to make such periodical payments, at such times and for
such term as the court thinks fit; and
(b) giving
any direction which the court thinks fit.
(2) An interim order made
under this paragraph –
(a) may
provide for payments to be made from such date as the court may specify, not
being earlier than the date of the making of the application under paragraph 1
or 2; and
(b) shall
cease to have effect when the application is disposed of or, if earlier, on the
date specified for the purposes of this paragraph in the interim order.
(3) An interim order in
which a date has been specified for the purposes of sub-paragraph (2)(b)
may be varied by substituting a later date.
9 Alteration
of maintenance agreements[45]
(1) An application to the
court for the alteration of a maintenance agreement which is for the time being
subsisting may, where both parties to the agreement are for the time being
domiciled or resident in Jersey, be made by either party.
(2) The court may, if it is
satisfied that –
(a) by
reason of a change in the circumstances in the light of which any financial
arrangements contained in the agreement were made (including a change foreseen
by the parties when making the arrangement), the agreement should be altered so
as to make different financial arrangements; or
(b) the
agreement does not contain proper financial arrangements with respect to the
child,
by order make such alterations in the agreement by varying or
revoking any financial arrangements contained in it as may appear to it to be
just having regard to all the circumstances.
(3) Where a maintenance
agreement is altered by an order under this paragraph it shall have effect
thereafter as if the alteration had been made by agreement between the parties
and for cause.
(4) Where the court decides
to make an order under this paragraph altering a maintenance agreement
by –
(a) inserting
provision for the making or securing by one of the parties to the agreement of
periodical payments for the maintenance of the child; or
(b) increasing
the rate of periodical payments required to be made or secured by one of the
parties for the maintenance of the child,
it shall apply the provisions of paragraph 3(1) or (2) in
determining the term for which the payments or additional payments are to be
made or secured, as if the order were an order under paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) or
(ii).
(5) Nothing in this
paragraph shall affect any power of a court before which any proceedings
between the parties to a maintenance agreement are brought under any other
enactment to make an order concerning financial arrangements or any right of
either party to apply for such an order in such proceedings.
(6) In this
paragraph –
“financial arrangements” means provision with respect to
the making or securing of payments, or the disposition or use of any property,
for the maintenance or education of a child; and
“maintenance agreement” means any financial arrangements
made in writing between the parents of a child with respect to a child of
theirs, whether before or after the commencement of this paragraph.
10 Notification
of change of address
(1) Any person for the time
being under an obligation to make payments in pursuance of any order for the
payment of money made by the court under this Law shall give notice of any
change of address to such person (if any) as may be specified in the order.
(2) Any person failing
without reasonable excuse to give such notice shall be guilty of an offence and
liable to a fine of level 2 on the standard scale.
11 Financial
provision for child resident outside Jersey
(1) Where one parent of a
child lives in Jersey and the child lives outside Jersey with another parent, a
guardian or a person in whose favour a residence order is in force with respect
to the child, the court shall have power, on an application made by the person
with whom the child lives, to make one or both of the orders mentioned under
paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) or (ii) against the parent living in Jersey.
(2) Any reference in this
Law to the powers of the court under paragraph 1(1) or to an order made under
that sub-paragraph shall include a reference to the powers which the court has
or to an order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph.
12 Contribution
to child’s maintenance by Minister
Where a child lives, or is to live, with a person as the result of a
residence order who is not the child’s parent or married to, or in a
civil partnership with, the child’s parent, the Minister may make
contributions to that person towards the cost of the accommodation and
maintenance of the child.
13 Interpretation
In this Schedule –
(a) “child”
includes any person in relation to whom an application is made under paragraph
2 or 6; and
(b) except in paragraphs 2
and 12, “parent” includes any party to a marriage or civil
partnership (whether or not subsisting) in relation to whom the child concerned
is a child of the family, and any reference to either parent or both parents
shall be construed as references to any parent of the child and to all of the
child’s parents.
Schedule 2[46]
(Article 20)
MINISTERIAL SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
PART 1
ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHILDREN LOOKED AFTER BY MINISTER
1 Regulations
(1) Regulations
under Article 20(1)(a) may, in particular, make provision –
(a) with
regard to the welfare of children placed with appointed foster parents;
(b) as
to the arrangements to be made by the Minister in connection with the health
and education of such children;
(c) as
to the records to be kept by the Minister;
(d) for
securing that a child is not placed with an appointed foster parent unless that
person is for the time being approved by the Minister;
(e) for
securing that where possible the appointed foster parent with whom a child is
to be placed is –
(i) of the same
religious persuasion as the child, or
(ii) gives
an undertaking that the child will be brought up in that religious persuasion;
(f) for
securing that children placed with appointed foster parents, and the premises
in which they are accommodated, will be supervised and inspected by the
Minister and that the children will be removed from those premises if their
welfare appears to require it; and
(g) as
to the circumstances in which the Minister may make arrangements for duties
imposed on them by the Regulations to be discharged on their behalf.
(2) Regulations under
Article 20(1)(c) may, in particular, make provision as to –
(a) the
persons to be notified of any proposed arrangements;
(b) the
opportunities such persons are to have to make representations in relation to
the arrangements proposed;
(c) the
persons to be notified of any proposed changes in arrangements;
(d) the
records to be kept by the Minister; and
(e) the
supervision by the Minister of any arrangements made.
(3) Regulations under
Article 20(2) may, in particular, impose requirements on the Minister as
to –
(a) the
making of any decision by the Minister to allow a child to live with any person
described in Article 20(2)(a) or (c) (including requirements as to those
who must be consulted before the decision is made, and those who must be
notified when it has been made);
(b) the
supervision or medical examination of the child concerned;
(c) the
removal of the child, in such circumstances as the Regulations may prescribe,
from the care of the person with whom he or she has been allowed to live; and
(d) the
records to be kept by the Minister.
2 Promotion
and maintenance of contact between child and family
(1) Where a child is being
looked after by the Minister, the Minister shall, unless it is not reasonably
practicable or consistent with the child’s welfare, endeavour to promote
contact between the child and –
(a) the
child’s parents;
(b) any person
who is not a parent but who has parental responsibility for the child; and
(c) any
relative, friend or other person connected with the child.
(2) Where a child is being
looked after by the Minister –
(a) the
Minister shall take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that the
child’s parents and any other person other than a parent who has parental
responsibility for the child are kept informed of where the child is being
accommodated; and
(b) every
such person shall secure that the Minister is kept informed of his or her
address.
(3) Nothing in this
paragraph requires the Minister to inform any person of the whereabouts of a
child if the child is in the care of the Minister and the Minister has
reasonable cause to believe that informing the person would prejudice the
child’s welfare.
(4) Any person who, without
reasonable excuse, fails to comply with sub-paragraph (2)(b) shall be
guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of level 2 on the standard scale
unless he or she proves that –
(a) he or
she was residing at the same address as another person who was the
child’s parent or had parental responsibility for the child; and
(b) he or
she had reasonable cause to believe that the other person had informed the
Minister that both of them were residing at that address.
3 Appointment
of visitor for child who is not being visited
(1) Where it appears to the
Minister in relation to any child the Minister is looking after
that –
(a) communication
between the child and a parent or person other than a parent who has parental
responsibility for the child has been infrequent; or
(b) the
child has not visited, been visited by or lived with any such person during the
preceding 12 months,
and that it would be in the child’s best interests for an
independent person to be appointed to be the child’s visitor for the
purposes of this paragraph, it shall appoint such a visitor.
(2) A person so appointed
shall –
(a) have
the duty of visiting, advising and befriending the child; and
(b) be
entitled to recover from the Minister any reasonable expenses incurred by the
person for the purposes of his or her functions under this paragraph.
(3) A person’s
appointment as a visitor in pursuance of this paragraph shall be determined
if –
(a) the
person resigns by giving notice in writing to the Minister; or
(b) the
Minister terminates the person’s appointment by giving the person notice
in writing,
and such determination shall not prejudice any duty under this
paragraph to make further appointments.
(4) Where the Minister
proposes to appoint or have appointed a visitor for a child under this
paragraph, the appointment shall not be made or, if made, shall be determined
if –
(a) the
child objects to it or to its continuing; and
(b) the
Minister is satisfied that the child has sufficient understanding to make an
informed decision.
(5) The States may make
Regulations as to the circumstances in which a person appointed as a visitor
under this paragraph is to be regarded as independent of the Minister.
4 Arrangements
to assist children to live outside Jersey
(1) The Minister
may –
(a) with
the approval of the court arrange for, or assist in arranging for, any child in
the Minister’s care to live outside Jersey; and
(b) with
the approval of every person who has parental responsibility for the child
arrange for, or assist in arranging for, any child not in the care of the
Minister but looked after by the Minister to live outside Jersey.
(2) The court shall not
give its approval under sub-paragraph (1)(a) unless it is satisfied
that –
(a) it
would be in the child’s best interests to live outside Jersey;
(b) suitable
arrangements have been, or will be, made for the child’s reception and
welfare in the country in which the child will live;
(c) the
child has consented to living in that country except where the court is
satisfied that the child does not have sufficient understanding to give or
withhold consent; and
(d) every
person who has parental responsibility for the child has consented to the child
living in that country except for a person whom the court is satisfied cannot
be found, is incapable of consenting or is withholding his or her consent
unreasonably.
(3) Article 40 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961 (which restricts the removal
of infants for adoption outside the British Islands) shall not apply in the
case of any child who is to live outside the British Islands with the approval
of the court given under this paragraph.
(4) Where the court gives
its approval under this paragraph it may order that its decision is not to have
effect –
(a) where
an appeal is made against the decision, during the period between the making of
the decision and the determination of the appeal; and
(b) otherwise,
during the period in which an appeal may be made against the decision.
(5) Sub-paragraph (7)
applies where, before the coming into force of the Amendment Law, the court
gives its approval under sub-paragraph (1)(a), and sub-paragraph (4)
applies where an appeal is made against the court’s decision –
(a) after
the coming into force of the Amendment Law; or
(b) before
the coming into force of the Amendment Law but that appeal does not fall to be
determined until after the coming into force of the Amendment Law.
(6) Sub-paragraph (7) also
applies where, before the coming into force of the Amendment Law, the court
gives its approval under sub-paragraph (1)(a) but does not make an order
under sub-paragraph (4) and an appeal is made against the court’s
decision –
(a) after
the coming into force of the Amendment Law; or
(b) before
the coming into force of the Amendment Law but that appeal does not fall to be
determined until after the coming into force of the Amendment Law.
(7) In the cases described
in sub-paragraphs (5) and (6), the court’s decision in relation to
the appeal is to be made on the basis of sub-paragraph (2) (as amended by
the Amendment Law).
(8) Where, before the
coming into force of the Amendment Law, the Minister has made an application
for approval under sub-paragraph (1)(a) but that application does not fall
to be determined until after the coming into force of the Amendment Law, the
court’s decision in relation to that application is to be made on the
basis of sub-paragraph (2) (as amended by the Amendment Law).
(9) In this paragraph,
“Amendment Law” means the Children (Arrangements to
Assist Children to Live Outside Jersey) (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022.
5 Death
of children being looked after by the Minister
(1) Where a child who is
being looked after by the Minister dies, the Minister –
(a) shall,
so far as is reasonably practicable, notify the child’s parents and every
person who is not a parent of the child but who has parental responsibility for
the child; and
(b) may,
with the consent, so far as it is reasonably practicable to obtain it, of every
person who has parental responsibility for the child arrange for the
child’s body to be buried, or, provided it accords with the practice of
the child’s religious persuasion, cremated.
(2) Where the Minister has
exercised the Minister’s power under sub-paragraph (1)(b) with
respect to a child who was under 16 when the child died, the Minister may
recover from any parent of the child any expenses incurred by the Minister and
any sums so recoverable shall, without prejudice to any other method of
recovery, be recoverable as a civil debt.
(3) Nothing in this
paragraph affects any enactment regulating or authorizing the burial, cremation
or anatomical examination of the body of a deceased person.
PART 2
CONTRIBUTIONS
6 Liability
to contribute
(1) Where the Minister is
looking after a child (other than under Article 18 or an interim care
order), the Minister may recover contributions towards the child’s maintenance –
(a) where
the child is under full age, from each of the child’s parents; and
(b) where
the child has reached the age of 16, the child personally,
if the Minister considers it reasonable to do so (having regard to
that person’s means and such other circumstances as the Minister
considers relevant).
(2) A person is not liable
to contribute towards a child’s maintenance –
(a) in
the case of a parent, if he or she is in receipt of Parish Welfare payments or
benefit under the Social Security (Jersey) Law 1974; and
(b) except
as agreed or determined in accordance with this Part.
(3) Where a child is in the
care of the Minister but is living with one of his or her parents, that parent
may recover contributions towards the child’s welfare from the parent
with whom the child is not living.
7 Agreed
contributions
(1) Contributions towards a
child’s maintenance may only be recovered if the Minister, having made
such enquiries as the Minister considers necessary to ascertain the
contributor’s means, has served on the contributor a contribution notice
in writing and dated specifying –
(a) the
weekly sum which it considers that he or she should contribute (having regard
to his or her means and such other circumstances as the Minister considers
relevant); and
(b) arrangements
for payment which shall, in particular, include the date on which –
(i) liability to
contribute begins (which must not be earlier than the date of the notice),
(ii) liability
under the notice will end (if the child has not before that date ceased to be
looked after by the Minister), and
(iii) the
first payment is to be made.
(2) The Minister may
specify in a contribution notice a weekly sum which is a standard contribution
determined by the Minister for all children looked after by the Minister.
(3) The Minister may not
specify in a contribution notice a weekly sum greater than that which the
Minister considers he or she would normally be prepared to pay if the Minister
had placed a similar child with appointed foster parents.
(4) Where a contributor
fails to supply sufficient evidence of his or her means the Minister may
specify in a contribution notice a weekly sum up to the maximum sum allowed in
accordance with in sub-paragraph (3).
(5) The Minister may at any
time withdraw a contribution notice (without prejudice to the Minister’s
power to serve another).
(6) Without prejudice to
any other method of recovery, where –
(a) the
Minister and the contributor agree the sum which the contributor is to
contribute and arrangements for payment (whether as specified in the
contribution notice or otherwise); and
(b) the
contributor notifies the Minister in writing that he or she so agrees,
the Minister may recover summarily as a civil debt any contribution
which is overdue and unpaid.
(7) A contributor may, by
serving a notice in writing on the Minister, withdraw his or her agreement in
relation to any period of liability falling after the date of service of the
notice.
8 Contribution
orders
(1) Where a contributor has
been served with a contribution notice and has –
(a) failed
to reach agreement with the Minister as mentioned in paragraph 7(6) within
the period of one month beginning with the day on which the contribution notice
was served; or
(b) served
a notice under paragraph 7(7) withdrawing his or her agreement,
and provided that the notice has not been withdrawn, the Minister
may apply to the court for an order under this paragraph.
(2) On such an application
the court may make a contribution order requiring the contributor to contribute
a weekly sum towards the child’s maintenance in accordance with
arrangements for payment specified by the court.
(3) A contribution order
shall be made with due regard to the contributor’s means.
(4) A contribution order
shall not –
(a) specify
a weekly sum greater than that specified in the contribution notice;
(b) take
effect before the date specified in the contribution notice;
(c) have
effect while the contributor is not liable to contribute (by virtue of
paragraph 6); or
(d) remain
in force after the child has ceased to be looked after by the Minister.
(5) Where a contribution
order is in force, the Minister serves another contribution notice and the
contributor and the Minister reach an agreement under paragraph 7(6) in
respect of that other contribution notice –
(a) the
order shall be automatically discharged from the date on which it is agreed
that the agreement shall take effect; and
(b) the
Minister shall notify the court of the agreement and the date on which it took
effect.
(6) A contribution order
may be varied or revoked on the application of the contributor or the Minister.
(7) In proceedings for the
variation of a contribution order, the Minister shall specify –
(a) the
weekly sum which, having regard to paragraph 7, the Minister proposes that
the contributor should contribute under the order as varied; and
(b) the
proposed arrangements for payment.
(8) Where a contribution
order is varied, the order –
(a) shall
not specify a weekly sum greater than that specified by the Minister in the
proceedings for variation; and
(b) shall
be made with due regard to the contributor’s means.
9 Enforcement
of agreements and orders made in other parts of the British Islands
(1) Where a local authority
in any other part of the British Islands has an agreement or order requiring a
person to contribute to the maintenance of a child which that authority is
looking after, the Minister may –
(a) at
the request of that other authority; and
(b) subject
to agreement as to any sum to be deducted in respect of services rendered,
collect from that person any contribution due on behalf of that
authority and (subject to any agreed deduction) pay it to the authority.
(2) The power to collect
sums under sub-paragraph (1) includes the power to –
(a) receive
and give a discharge for any contributions due; and
(b) enforce,
if necessary, payment of any contributions,
even though those contributions may have fallen due at a time when
the person liable to make such contribution was living outside Jersey.
(3) In any proceedings
under this paragraph –
(a) a
document purporting to be a copy of an order certified by the clerk of the
court which made it shall be evidence of the order; and
(b) a
certificate purporting to be signed by the clerk or some other duly authorized
officer of the local authority who obtained the order and stating that any sum
due to the authority under the order is overdue and unpaid, shall be evidence
that the sum is overdue and unpaid.
(4) In this paragraph
“local authority” includes –
(a) in
relation to England and Wales, the council of a county, a metropolitan
district, a London Borough or Common Council of the city of London;
(b) in
relation to Scotland, a local authority within the meaning of section 1(2) of
the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968;
(c) in
relation to Northern Ireland, a Health and Social Services Board established
under Article 16 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern
Ireland) Order 1972;
(d) in
relation to the Bailiwick of Guernsey, the Children Board; and
(e) in
relation to the Isle of Man, the Department of Health and Social Security of
the Isle of Man.
Schedule 3
(Article 28)
Supervision orders
1 Power
of supervisor to give directions to supervised child
(1) A
supervision order may confer power on a supervisor to give directions to a
supervised child from time to time –
(a) specifying
where the child is to live;
(b) requiring
the child to present himself or herself to a person specified in the directions
at and such time and place as may be so specified; and
(c) to
participate in such activities on such dates as may be so specified.
(2) Sub-paragraph (1)
does not confer power on a supervisor to give directions in respect of any
medical or psychiatric examination or treatment.
2 Obligations
on responsible person
(1) Where a responsible
person consents, a supervision order may require that person to –
(a) take
all reasonable steps to ensure that the supervised child complies with any
direction given by the supervisor under paragraph 1;
(b) take
all reasonable steps to ensure that the supervised child complies with any
requirement included in the order under paragraph 3 or 4; and
(c) comply
with any directions given by the supervisor requiring him or her to attend at a
place specified in the directions for the purpose of taking part in activities
so specified.
(2) A direction given under
sub-paragraph (1)(c) may specify the time at which the responsible person is
to attend and whether or not the supervised child is required to attend with
the person.
(3) A supervision order may
require a responsible person who has a different address from that of the child
to keep the supervisor informed of his or her address.
3 Psychiatric
and medical examinations
(1) A supervision order may
require the supervised child to submit to a medical or psychiatric examination
or to submit to such examination from time to time as directed by the
supervisor –
(a) by or
under the direction of such registered medical practitioner as may be specified
in the order;
(b) at a
place specified in the order and at which the supervised child is to attend as
a non-resident patient; or
(c) at a
hospital or, in the case of a psychiatric examination, a hospital or mental
nursing home at which the supervised child is, or is to attend as a resident
patient.
(2) A requirement of a kind
mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(c) shall not be included unless the court
is satisfied, on the evidence of a registered medical practitioner,
that –
(a) the
child may be suffering from a physical or mental condition that requires, and
may be susceptible to, treatment; and
(b) a
period as a resident patient is necessary if the examination is to be carried
out properly.
(3) The court shall not
include a requirement under this paragraph in a supervision order unless it is
satisfied that –
(a) where
the child has sufficient understanding to make an informed decision, the child
consents to its inclusion; and
(b) satisfactory
arrangements have been, or can be, made for the examination.
4 Psychiatric
and medical treatment[47]
(1) Where the court is
proposing to make or vary a supervision order and is satisfied, on the evidence
of a registered medical practitioner having special experience in the diagnosis
or treatment of mental disorder, that the mental condition of the supervised
child –
(a) is
such as requires, and may be susceptible to, treatment; but
(b) is
not such as to warrant the child’s detention under Part 3 of the Mental Health (Jersey) Law 2016,
the court may include in the order a requirement that the supervised
child shall, for a period specified in the order, submit to such treatment as
is so specified.
(2) The treatment specified
in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) must be –
(a) by or
under the direction of such registered medical practitioner as may be specified
in the order;
(b) as a
non-resident patient at such a place as may be so specified; or
(c) as a resident
patient in a hospital or mental nursing home.
(3) Where the court is
proposing to make or vary a supervision order and is satisfied, on the evidence
of a registered medical practitioner, that the physical condition of the
supervised child is such as requires, and may be susceptible to, treatment, the
court may include in the order a requirement that the supervised child shall,
for a period specified in the order, submit to such treatment as is so
specified.
(4) The treatment specified
in accordance with sub-paragraph (3) must be –
(a) by or
under the direction of such registered medical practitioner as may be specified
in the order;
(b) as a
non-resident patient at such a place as may be so specified; or
(c) as a
resident patient in a hospital.
(5) The court shall not
include a requirement under this paragraph in a supervision order unless it is
satisfied –
(a) where
the child has sufficient understanding to make an informed decision, that the
child consents to its inclusion; and
(b) that
satisfactory arrangements have been, or can be, made for the treatment.
(6) If a medical
practitioner by whom or under whose direction a supervised person is being
treated in pursuance of a requirement included in a supervision order by virtue
of this paragraph is unwilling to continue to treat or direct the treatment of
the supervised child or is of the opinion that –
(a) the
treatment should be continued beyond the period specified in the order;
(b) the
supervised child needs different treatment;
(c) the
child is not susceptible to treatment; or
(d) the
child does not require further treatment,
the practitioner shall make a report in writing to that effect to
the supervisor.
(7) On receiving a report
under this paragraph the supervisor shall refer it to the court, and on such a
reference the court may make an order cancelling or varying the requirement.
5 Duration
of a supervision order
(1) Subject to Article 66,
a supervision order shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of one
year beginning with the date on which it was made.
(2) Where the supervisor
applies to the court to extend, or further extend, a supervision order the
court may extend the order for such period as it may specify.
(3) A supervision order may
not be extended so as to run beyond the end of the period of 3 years beginning
with the day on which it was made.
6 Requirements
in relation to supervision order
(1) A supervision order may
require the supervised child –
(a) to
keep the supervisor informed of any change in his or her address; and
(b) to
allow the supervisor to visit the child at the place where he or she is living.
(2) The responsible person
in relation to any child with respect to whom a supervision order is made
shall –
(a) if
asked by the supervisor, inform the supervisor of the child’s address (if
it is known to the responsible person); and
(b) if
the responsible person is living with the child, allow the supervisor
reasonable contact with the child.
7 Selection
of supervisor
(1) A supervision order
shall not designate the Minister unless the Minister agrees.
(2) The court shall not
place a child under the supervision of a probation officer unless –
(a) the
Minister so requests; and
(b) a
probation officer is already exercising or has exercised, in relation to
another member of the household to which the child belongs, duties imposed on
probation officers by the Loi (1937) sur l’atténuation des
peines et sur la mise en liberté surveillée.
(3) Where a supervision order
places a person under the supervision of a probation officer, the officer shall
be selected in accordance with arrangements made by the Probation Board.
(4) If the selected
probation officer is unable to carry out his or her duties, or dies, another
probation officer shall be selected in the same manner.
8 Effect
of supervision order on earlier orders
The making of a supervision order with respect to any child brings
to an end any earlier care or supervision order which was made with respect to
that child and would otherwise continue in force.
Schedule 4
(Article 54(2) and 62)
Disqualification for caring for children
1. A
person is disqualified for the purposes of Article 54(2) and Article 62
if –
(a) he
or she is the parent of a child who has at any time been made the subject of a
care order under Article 24(1)(a);
(b) an
order has been made under –
(i) Article 24(1)(a),
or
(ii) Part 4
of the 1969 Law,
so as to remove a child from the person’s care or prevent the
child living with the person;
(c) an order
has been made at any time for the purposes of removing a child who was being
kept, or was about to be received by the person under –
(i) Article 36
of the 1969 Law, or
(ii) Article 37
of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961;
(d) the
person’s rights and powers with respect to a child had at any time been
vested in the Minister under Article 57 of the 1969 Law;
(e) the
person has been convicted of any offence specified in paragraph 2;
(f) the
person carried on, or was otherwise concerned in the management of, or had any
financial interest in –
(i) a care home
service which provides services to children as well as adults or a
children’s home service which the Commission has refused to register under
Article 5 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014, or the registration of
which the Commission has cancelled under Article 20 of that Law, or
(ii) a
voluntary home which the Minister has –
(A) refused
to register under Article 54(4) of this Law or Article 52(3) of the
1969 Law, or
(B) removed
from the register under Article 54(5) of this Law or Article 52(4) of
the 1969 Law;
(g) the
person has been prohibited from fostering a child privately under –
(i) Article 60(3)
of this Law, or
(ii) Article 33(5)
of the 1969 Law; or
(h) the
person has been refused registration under Article 2(4) of the Day Care of Children (Jersey) Law 2002 or Article 42(5) of the
1969 Law or such registration has been cancelled under Articles 7 or 72
respectively of those Laws.[48]
2. The
offences referred to in paragraph 1(e) are –
(a) the
murder or manslaughter of a child;
(b) infanticide;
(c) an
offence against a child under the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2018;
(d) an
offence against a child under any provision of an enactment or of customary law
that was repealed by the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2018;
(e) any
other offence that is a relevant offence within the meaning of the Sex Offenders (Jersey) Law 2010;
(f) stealing
a child or receiving a stolen child;
(g) assault
on a child;
(h) an
offence under Article 35 of this Law or Article 9 of the 1969 Law;
(i) any
other offence involving bodily injury to a child;
(j) an
offence under Article 2(1)(a) of the Protection of Children (Jersey) Law 1994;
(k) an
offence under Article 38(1)(b) or (c) of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961;
(l) an
offence under Article 37(12), Article 44 or Article 45(7);
(m) an offence
under Article 12 of the Day Care of Children (Jersey) Law 2002 or Article 45 of the
1969 Law; and
(n) an
offence under Article 54(6) of this Law or Article 52(5) of the 1969
Law.[49]
3. In
this Schedule “the 1969 Law” means the Children (Jersey) Law 1969.
Schedule 5
(Article 82(1))
TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND SAVINGS
1 Pending
proceedings, etc
(1) Subject
to sub-paragraph (3), nothing in any provision of this Law shall affect
any proceedings which are pending immediately before the commencement of that
provision.
(2) For the purpose of the
following provisions of this Schedule, any reference to an order in force
immediately before the commencement of a provision of this Law shall be
construed as including a reference to an order made after that commencement in
proceedings pending before that commencement.
(3) Sub-paragraph (2)
is not to be read as making the order in question have effect from a date
earlier than that on which it was made.
(4) Rules of Court under
Article 71(2) may make such provision with respect to the application of
those Rules in relation to proceedings which are pending when the Rules come
into force as the Superior Number of the Royal Court consider appropriate.
2 Orders
with respect to children
(1) In this paragraph
“existing order” means any order, other than an order referred to
in sub-paragraph (2), in force before the commencement of Parts 1 and
2 which determines all or any of the following –
(a) who
is to have custody of a child;
(b) who
is to have care and control of a child;
(c) who
is to have access to a child; and
(d) any
matter with respect to a child’s education or upbringing.
(2) The orders referred to
in sub-paragraph (1) are –
(a) an
order under Article 12(1)(a) of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969 committing
a child to the care of the Minister;
(b) an
order under Article 27(1) of that Law; and
(c) a
parental rights order under Article 57(1) of that Law.
(3) Subject to
sub-paragraph (4), where there is an existing order with respect to a
child, each of the child’s parents shall have parental responsibility for
the child in accordance with Article 3 save that for paragraph (7) of
that Article there shall be substituted the following paragraph –
“(7) The fact that a person has
parental responsibility for a child does not entitle the person to act in a way
which would be incompatible with any existing order or any order made under
this Law with respect to the child.”.
(4) Where the parents of a
child in respect of whom there is an existing order were not married to each
other at the time of the child’s birth Article 3 shall be further
modified so that –
(a) for
the purposes of Article 3(2), where the father has custody or care and
control of the child by virtue of an existing order, the court shall be deemed
to have made (at the commencement of that Article) an order under Article 5(1)
giving him parental responsibility for the child; and
(b) where
by virtue of clause (a) a court is deemed to have made an order under
Article 5(1) in favour of a father who has care and control of a child by
virtue of an existing order, the court shall not bring the order to an end at
any time while he has care and control of the child by virtue of the order.
(5) Where a person who is
not the parent or guardian of a child has custody or care and control of the
child by virtue of an existing order, that person shall have parental
responsibility for the child so long as he or she continues to have that
custody or care and control by virtue of the order and Parts 1 and 2 shall
have effect save that –
(a) for
Article 3(7) there shall be substituted the following
paragraph –
“(7) The fact that a person has
parental responsibility for a child does not entitle the person to act in a way
which would be incompatible with any existing order or any order made under
this Law with respect to the child.”;
(b) in
Article 10(3) after paragraph (a) there shall be inserted the following
sub-paragraph –
“(aa) any person who has custody or care and
control by virtue of any existing order;”; and
(c) in
Article 27(1) after paragraph (b) there shall be inserted the
following paragraph –
“(ba) where immediately before the care order
was made there was an existing order by virtue of which a person had custody or
care and control of a child, that person;”.
(6) where a person
continues to have care and control of a child by virtue of an existing
order –
(a) Article 7
shall have effect as if –
(i) for any reference
to a residence order in favour of a parent or guardian there were substituted a
reference to any existing order by virtue of which the parent or guardian has
care and control of the child, and
(ii) for
paragraph (9) there were substituted –
“(9) Paragraphs (1) and (7)
do not apply if the existing order referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of
those paragraphs was one by virtue of which a surviving parent of the child
also had care and control of the child.”;
(b) Article 10
shall have effect as if for paragraph (4)(c)(i) there were substituted the
following clause –
“(i) in any case where by
virtue of an existing order any person or persons has or have care and control
of the child, has the consent of that person or each of those persons,”;
(c) Article 17
shall have effect as if for paragraph (9)(a) there were substituted the
following sub-paragraph –
“(a) who has care and control of
the child by virtue of an existing order;”;
(d) Article 20
shall have effect as if for paragraph (2)(b) there were substituted the
following sub-paragraph –
“(b) where the child is in care
and immediately before the care order was made there was an existing order by
virtue of which a person had care and control of the child, that
person;”; and
(e) paragraphs
1(1) and 11(1) of Schedule 1 shall have effect as if for the words
“in whose favour a residence order is in force with respect to the
child” there were substituted the words “who has been given care
and control of the child by virtue of an existing order”.
(7) Where a person has
access by virtue of an existing order –
(a) Article 10
shall have effect as if after paragraph (4) there were inserted the
following paragraph –
“(4A) Any person who has access to a child by virtue
of an existing order is entitled to apply for a contact order.”;
(b) Article 16(2)
shall have effect as if after sub-paragraph (b) there were inserted the
following sub-paragraph –
“(ba) any person who has access to the child by
virtue of an existing order;”; and
(c) Articles 36(8),
37(10) and 41(6) shall have effect as if in each case after sub-paragraph (d)
there were inserted the following sub-paragraph –
“(da) any person who has been given access to
the child by virtue of an existing order;”.
3 Discharge
of existing orders
(1) The making of a
residence order or a care order with respect to a child who is the subject of
an existing order discharges the existing order.
(2) Where the court makes
any Article 10 order (other than a residence order) with respect to a
child with respect to whom any existing order is in force, the existing order
shall have effect subject to the Article 10 order.
(3) The court may discharge
an existing order, or any part of it, which is in force with respect to a
child –
(a) in
any family proceedings relating to the child or in which any question arises
with respect to the child’s welfare; or
(b) on
the application of any parent or guardian of the child or any person named in
the order.
(4) In considering whether
to discharge an order under the power conferred by sub-paragraph (3) the
court shall, if the discharge of the order is opposed by any party to the
proceedings, have regard in particular to the matters mentioned in Article 2(3).
(5) In this paragraph
“existing order” has the same meaning as in paragraph 2.
4 Orders
for pension alimentaire
Any order in force for pension alimentaire shall, on the commencement of Article 15 and Schedule 1,
have effect as an order for the making or securing of periodical payments under
paragraph 1(1)(a)(i) or (ii) of that Schedule.
5 Care
orders
(1) Any order in force
under –
(a) Article 12(1)(a)
of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969 committing a child to the care of the
Minister;
(b) Article 27(1)
of that Law committing a child to the care of the Minister; or
(c) Article 57(1)
of that Law (a parental rights order),
shall, on and after commencement of Part 4, be deemed to be a
care order under this Law placing that child in the care of the Minister.
(2) Any order in force
under Article 12(1)(a) of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969 committing a
child to the care of a fit person other than the Minister shall, on and after
the commencement of Part 2, be deemed to be a residence order in favour of
that person.
(3) Where, immediately
before the commencement of Part 3, a child is in the care of the Minister
under Article 56 of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969, on and after the
commencement of Part 3 the child shall be treated as a child who is
provided with accommodation by the Minister under Part 3, but the child
shall cease to be so treated once he or she ceases to be so accommodated in
accordance with the provisions of that Part.
(4) Where, immediately
before the commencement of Part 3, a child in the care of the Minister was
boarded out with a person under Article 65 of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969,
on the commencement of that Part, while the child remains with that person the
child shall be treated as having been placed with an appointed foster parent.
(5) Any reference in Part 3
to a person qualifying for advice and assistance shall be construed as
including a reference to a person under the age of 21 and who was, at any time
after reaching the age of 16 but while still a child the subject of an order
mentioned in sub-paragraph (1).
(6) Where, immediately
before the commencement of Part 2 of Schedule 2, there was in force a
contribution order under Article 69 of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969,
then on and after such commencement –
(a) the
order shall have effect as if made under paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 2; and
(b) Part 2
of Schedule 2 shall apply to the order save that in
paragraph 8 –
(i) sub-paragraph (4)(b)
shall be deleted,
(ii) in
sub-paragraph (5) for the words “another contribution notice”
there shall be substituted the words “a contribution notice under
paragraph 7” and the word “other” shall be omitted,
(iii) in
sub-paragraph (8)(b) for the full stop there shall be substituted the word
“; and”, and
(iv) after
subparagraph 8(b) there shall be inserted the following paragraph –
“(c) where the order is against a
person who is not a parent of the child, shall be made with due regard
to –
(i) whether that person had assumed
responsibility for the maintenance of the child and, if so, the extent to which
and the basis on which the person assumed that responsibility and the length of
the period during which the person met that responsibility,
(ii) whether the person did so knowing that
the child was not his or her child, and
(iii) the liability of any other person to
maintain the child.”.
6 Supervision
orders
(1) Any order in force
under Article 12(1)(c) or Article 28 of the Children (Jersey) Law
1969 shall, on and after commencement of Part 4, be deemed to be a
supervision order and –
(a) any
requirement of the order that the child reside with a named individual shall
continue to have effect while the order remains in force, unless the court
otherwise directs; and
(b) any
other requirement imposed by the court, or directions given by the supervisor,
shall be deemed to have been imposed or given under the appropriate provisions
of Schedule 3.
(2) Where, immediately
before the commencement of Part 4, the order had been in force for a
period of more than 6 months, it shall cease to have effect 6 months after the
commencement of Part 4 unless –
(a) the
court directs that it shall cease to have effect at the end of a different
period (which shall not exceed 3 years);
(b) it
ceases to have effect earlier in accordance with Article 66; or
(c) it
would have ceased to have had effect earlier had this Law not been passed.
(3) Where sub-paragraph (2)
applies, paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 shall not apply.
(4) Where, immediately
before the commencement of Part 4, the order had been in force for less
than 6 months it shall cease to have effect in accordance with Article 66
and paragraph 5 of Schedule 3 unless –
(a) the
court directs that it shall cease to have effect at the end of a different
period (which shall not exceed 3 years); or
(b) it
would have ceased to have had effect earlier had this Law not been passed.
7 Place
of safety orders
Where –
(a) a warrant has been
issued under Article 10(1) of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969; or
(b) an order has been made
under Article 36 of that Law or under Article 37 of the Adoption (Jersey) Law 1961,
the order shall continue to have effect as if this Law had not been
passed.
8 Employment
of children
(1) Notwithstanding the
repeal of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969, any order made under Article 3
of that Law and in force immediately prior to the commencement of Part 6
of this Law shall, in so far as it is not inconsistent with any provision of
this Law, continue in force as if made under this Law.
(2) Any licence granted
under Article 5 of the Children (Jersey) Law 1969 shall, on and after
commencement of Part 6, have effect as a licence granted under Article 50
of this Law.
9 [50]
10 Foster
children
Any requirement or prohibition imposed under Article 33 of the Children
(Jersey) Law 1969 shall, on and after commencement of Part 8, have effect
as a requirement or prohibition, as the case may be, imposed under Article 60
of this Law.