PART VIPROTECTION OF CHILDREN

Abduction of children in care, etc.68

1

A person shall be guilty of an offence if, knowingly and without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, he—

a

takes a child to whom this Article applies away from the responsible person;

b

keeps such a child away from the responsible person; or

c

induces, assists or incites such a child to run away or stay away from the responsible person.

2

This Article applies in relation to a child who is—

a

in care;

b

the subject of an emergency protection order; or

c

in police protection,

and in this Article “the responsible person” means any person who for the time being has care of him by virtue of the care order, the emergency protection order, or Article 65, as the case may be.

3

A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.