Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011

170Child absconding from person

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a person has (or is authorised to have) control of a child by virtue of—

(i)a child assessment order,

(ii)a child protection order,

(iii)an order under section 55,

(iv)section 56,

(v)section 65,

(vi)a compulsory supervision order,

(vii)an interim compulsory supervision order,

(viii)a medical examination order,

(ix)a warrant to secure attendance, or

(x)section 143, and

(b)the child absconds from that person.

(2)The child may be arrested without warrant and taken to that person.

(3)If a court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the child is within premises, the court may grant a warrant authorising an officer of law to—

(a)enter premises, and

(b)search for the child.

(4)The court may authorise the officer of law to use reasonable force for those purposes.

(5)Where the child is returned to the person mentioned in subsection (1), but the person is unwilling or unable to receive the child—

(a)the officer of law returning the child must immediately notify the Principal Reporter of that fact, and

(b)the child must be kept in a place of safety until the occurrence of the relevant event.

(6)In subsection (5), the relevant event is—

(a)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) of subsection (1)(a), the end of the period specified in the child assessment order,

(b)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) of that subsection, whichever of the following first occurs—

(i)the children’s hearing arranged under section 45 or 69,

(ii)the termination of the child protection order,

(c)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (iii) of that subsection, whichever of the following first occurs—

(i)the order ceasing to have effect under section 55(4) or (5),

(ii)the determination by the sheriff of an application for a child protection order in respect of the child,

(d)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (iv) of that subsection, whichever of the following first occurs—

(i)the giving of notice under subsection (5) of section 56, or

(ii)the end of the period mentioned in subsection (3) of that section,

(e)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (v) of that subsection, whichever of the following first occurs—

(i)the giving of a direction by the Principal Reporter under section 68(2) or 72(2)(a), or

(ii)the children’s hearing arranged by virtue of section 69(2),

(f)in the case mentioned in sub-paragraph (vi) of that subsection, the children’s hearing arranged by virtue of section 131(2)(b),

(g)in the cases mentioned in sub-paragraphs (vii) and (ix) of that subsection whichever of the following first occurs—

(i)the next children’s hearing that has been arranged in relation to the child,

(ii)the next hearing before the sheriff relating to the child that is to take place by virtue of this Act,

(h)in the cases mentioned in sub-paragraphs (viii) and (x) of that subsection, the next children’s hearing that has been arranged in relation to the child.