Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006

Protection of children from abuse

24 Orders under section 11 of Children (Scotland) Act 1995: protection from abuse

After subsection (7) of section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 36) (court orders relating to parental responsibilities etc.) there shall be inserted—

“(7A) In carrying out the duties imposed by subsection (7)(a) above, the court shall have regard in particular to the matters mentioned in subsection (7B) below.

(7B) Those matters are—

(a) the need to protect the child from—

(i) any abuse; or

(ii) the risk of any abuse,

which affects, or might affect, the child;

(b) the effect such abuse, or the risk of such abuse, might have on the child;

(c) the ability of a person—

(i) who has carried out abuse which affects or might affect the child; or

(ii) who might carry out such abuse,

to care for, or otherwise meet the needs of, the child; and

(d) the effect any abuse, or the risk of any abuse, might have on the carrying out of responsibilities in connection with the welfare of the child by a person who has (or, by virtue of an order under subsection (1), would have) those responsibilities.

(7C) In subsection (7B) above—

• “abuse” includes —

  (a)

  violence, harassment, threatening conduct and any other conduct giving rise, or likely to give rise, to physical or mental injury, fear, alarm or distress;

  (b)

  abuse of a person other than the child; and

  (c)

  domestic abuse;

• “conduct” includes—

  (a)

  speech; and

  (b)

  presence in a specified place or area.

(7D) Where—

(a) the court is considering making an order under subsection (1) above; and

(b) in pursuance of the order two or more relevant persons would have to co-operate with one another as respects matters affecting the child,

the court shall consider whether it would be appropriate to make the order.

(7E) In subsection (7D) above, “relevant person”, in relation to a child, means—

(a) a person having parental responsibilities or parental rights in respect of the child; or

(b) where a parent of the child does not have parental responsibilities or parental rights in respect of the child, a parent of the child.”.