The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

Valid from 12/10/2009

Barred person not to engage in regulated activityN.I.

11.—(1) An individual commits an offence if he—

(a)seeks to engage in regulated activity from which he is barred;

(b)offers to engage in regulated activity from which he is barred;

(c)engages in regulated activity from which he is barred.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) is liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both;

(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under paragraph (1) to prove that he did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that he was barred from that activity.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under paragraph (1) to prove—

(a)that he reasonably thought that it was necessary for him to engage in the activity for the purpose of preventing harm to a child or vulnerable adult (as the case may be),

(b)that he reasonably thought that there was no other person who could engage in the activity for that purpose, and

(c)that he engaged in the activity for no longer than was necessary for that purpose.

(5) For the purposes of this Article, Schedule 2 is modified as follows—

(a)in paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(a) must be disregarded;

(b)in paragraph 7(1), the words “if it is carried out frequently by the same person or the period condition is satisfied” must be disregarded;

(c)in paragraph 7(4), paragraph (a) must be disregarded.

Prospective

Person not to engage in regulated activity unless subject to monitoringN.I.

12.—(1) An individual commits an offence if—

(a)he engages in regulated activity with the permission of a regulated activity provider, and

(b)he is not subject to monitoring in relation to that activity.

(2) An individual commits an offence if—

(a)he engages in an activity which is a regulated activity by virtue of paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 2, and

(b)he is not subject to monitoring in relation to regulated activity relating to children.

(3) An individual commits an offence if—

(a)he acts as a member of the governing body of an educational establishment mentioned in paragraph (5), and

(b)he is not subject to monitoring in relation to regulated activity relating to children.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) The establishments are—

(a)an educational institution which is exclusively or mainly for the provision of full-time education to children;

(b)a nursery school within the meaning of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (NI 3).

(6) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) if he has not attained the age of 16.

(7) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) if, in relation to any continuous period for which he is permitted to engage in the activity—

(a)the permission is first given before the commencement of this Article, and

(b)it continues to have effect after such commencement.

(8) Where paragraph (7) applies to a person who is engaged in regulated activity which is relevant HSS employment for the purposes of Article 21(1)(d), he does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) if he also engages in any other such regulated activity as mentioned in Article 21.

(9) Paragraph (7) does not apply in respect of permission which continues to have effect after such date as the Secretary of State specifies by order.

(10) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) if the regulated activity—

(a)is regulated activity relating to vulnerable adults, and

(b)falls within Article 20.

[F1(11) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (3) if, in relation to any continuous period for which the person is a member of the governing body of the establishment—

(a)the person's appointment first took effect before the commencement of this Article, and

(b)it continues to have effect after such commencement.]

(12) Paragraph (11) does not apply in respect of an appointment which continues to have effect after such date as the Secretary of State specifies by order.

(13) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) to prove that he did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that he was not subject to monitoring in relation to the activity.

(14) In determining what is the appropriate sentence to pass in respect of a person who is convicted of an offence under this Article in a case where the regulated activity falls within paragraph 1(1) or (2) or 7(1) or (4) of Schedule 2 the court must consider the extent to which the offender had regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State as to the circumstances in which an activity is carried out frequently.

Valid from 12/10/2009

Use of barred person for regulated activityN.I.

13.—(1) A person commits an offence if—

(a)he permits an individual (B) to engage in regulated activity from which B is barred,

(b)he knows or has reason to believe that B is barred from that activity; and

(c)B engages in that activity.

(2) A personnel supplier commits an offence if—

(a)he supplies an individual (B) to another (P),

(b)he knows or has reason to believe that P will make arrangements for B to engage in regulated activity from which B is barred, and

(c)he knows or has reason to believe that B is barred from that activity.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this Article is liable—

(a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to a fine, or to both;

(b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

(4) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this Article to prove—

(a)that he reasonably thought that it was necessary for the barred person to engage in the activity for the purpose of preventing harm to a child or vulnerable adult (as the case may be),

(b)that he reasonably thought that there was no other person who could engage in the activity for that purpose, and

(c)that the barred person engaged in the activity for no longer than was necessary for that purpose.

(5) For the purposes of this Article, Schedule 2 is modified as follows—

(a)in paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(a) must be disregarded;

(b)in paragraph 7(1), the words “if it is carried out frequently by the same person or the period condition is satisfied” must be disregarded;

(c)in paragraph 7(4), paragraph (a) must be disregarded.

Prospective

Use of person not subject to monitoring for regulated activityN.I.

14.—(1) A regulated activity provider commits an offence if—

(a)he permits an individual (B) to engage in regulated activity in relation to which B is not subject to monitoring,

(b)he knows or has reason to believe that B is not subject to monitoring in relation to that activity, and

(c)B engages in that activity.

(2) A personnel supplier commits an offence if—

(a)he supplies an individual (B) to another (P),

(b)he knows or has reason to believe that P will make arrangements for B to engage in regulated activity in relation to which B is not subject to monitoring, and

(c)he knows or has reason to believe that B is not subject to monitoring in relation that activity.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), Schedule 2 is modified as follows—

(a)in paragraph 1, sub-paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(a) must be disregarded;

(b)in paragraph 7(1), the words “if it is carried out frequently by the same person or the period condition is satisfied” must be disregarded;

(c)in paragraph 7(4), paragraph (a) must be disregarded.

(4) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(5) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) if he has not attained the age of 16.

(6) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) if, in relation to any continuous period for which B is permitted to engage in the regulated activity—

(a)the permission is first given before the commencement of this Article, and

(b)it continues to have effect after such commencement.

(7) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) if—

(a)he falls within Article 21,

(b)the permission mentioned in paragraph (1) commences at a time when B is engaged in relevant HSS employment mentioned in Article 21(1)(b) in circumstances mentioned in paragraph (6), and

(c)for the duration of the permission mentioned in paragraph (1), B continues to be engaged in that relevant HSS employment.

(8) Paragraph (6) or (7) does not apply in respect of permission which continues to have effect after such date as the Secretary of State specifies by order.

(9) A person does not commit an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) if the regulated activity—

(a)is regulated activity relating to vulnerable adults, and

(b)falls within Article 20.

(10) In determining what is the appropriate sentence to pass in respect of a person who is convicted of an offence under this Article in a case where the regulated activity falls within paragraph 1(1) or (2) or 7(1) or (4) of Schedule 2 the court must consider the extent to which the offender had regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State as to the circumstances in which an activity is carried out frequently.

(11) A person is not guilty of an offence by virtue of paragraph (2) in relation to any period during which B is continuously supplied to another if the period begins before the commencement of this Article.

(12) Paragraph (11) does not have effect in respect of permission which continues to have effect after such date as the Secretary of State specifies by order.

Prospective

Articles 17 and 18: checksN.I.

19.—(1) This Article has effect for the purposes of Articles 17 and 18.

(2) P makes a check in accordance with this Article if—

(a)he obtains relevant information relating to B in pursuance of an application under Article 32, or

(b)he obtains a copy of an enhanced criminal record certificate relating to B issued in relation to P.

(3) P makes a check in accordance with this Article if—

(a)an enhanced criminal record certificate relating to B is issued during the prescribed period,

(b)the application for the certificate is countersigned on behalf of P by a registered person (within the meaning of Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 (c. 50)), and

(c)P obtains from the registered person the information mentioned in paragraph (4) derived from the certificate.

(4) The information is—

(a)whether B is subject to monitoring, and

(b)whether [F2ISA] is considering whether to include B in a barred list in pursuance of paragraph 3 or 5 or (as the case may be) 9 or 11 of Schedule 1.

(5) In paragraph (2)(a) “relevant information” means—

(a)in relation to a person appointed to a position mentioned in paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 2, relevant information relating to children (within the meaning of Article 33);

(b)in relation to a person appointed to a position mentioned in paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 2, relevant information relating to vulnerable adults (within the meaning of Article 33).

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) an enhanced criminal record certificate is issued in relation to P only if—

(a)he countersigned the application for the certificate as a registered person for the purposes of Part 5 of the Police Act 1997, or

(b)the application was countersigned on his behalf by such a person.

(7) In this Article “enhanced criminal record certificate” means—

(a)in relation to a person appointed to a position mentioned in paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 2, an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under the Police Act 1997 containing suitability information relating to children (within the meaning of section 113BA of that Act);

(b)in relation to a person appointed to a position mentioned in paragraph 8(1) of Schedule 2, an enhanced criminal record certificate issued under that Act containing suitability information relating to vulnerable adults (within the meaning of section 113BB of that Act).