Part IIIU.K. Protection of Children and Young Persons in relation to Criminal and Summary Proceedings

General Provisions as to Preliminary ProceedingsE+W

34AAttendance at court of parent or guardian.E+W

(1)Where a child or young person is charged with an offence or is for any other reason brought before a court, the court—

(a)may in any case; and

(b)shall in the case of a child or a young person who is under the age of sixteen years,

require a person who is a parent or guardian of his to attend at the court during all the stages of the proceedings, unless and to the extent that the court is satisfied that it would be unreasonable to require such attendance, having regard to the circumstances of the case.

(2)In relation to a child or young person for whom a local authority have parental responsibility and who—

(a)is in their care; or

(b)is provided with accommodation by them in the exercise of any functions (in particular those under the Children Act 1989) which [F1are social service functions within the meaning of] the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 [F2or the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014],

the reference in subsection (1) above to a person who is a parent or guardian of his shall be construed as a reference to that authority or, where he is allowed to live with such a person, as including such a reference.

In this subsection “local authority” and “parental responsibility” have the same meanings as in the Children Act 1989.

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 34A(2)(b) substituted (26.10.2000 for E. and 28.7.2001 for W.) by 2000 c. 22, ss. 107(1), 108(4), Sch. 5 para. 1; S.I. 2000/2849, art. 2(f)(h)