The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Offences

132.—(1) No person shall provide day care for children under the age of twelve on any premises within the area of an authority unless he is registered by the authority under Article 118(1)(b) with respect to those premises.

(2) If any person contravenes paragraph (1) without reasonable excuse, he shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) No person shall act as a child minder on domestic premises within the area of an authority unless he is registered by the authority under Article 118(1)(a).

(4) Where it appears to an authority that a person has contravened paragraph (3), the authority may serve a notice (“an enforcement notice”) on him.

(5) An enforcement notice shall have effect for a period of one year beginning with the date on which it is served.

(6) If a person with respect to whom an enforcement notice is in force contravenes paragraph (3) without reasonable excuse he shall be guilty of an offence.

(7) Paragraph (6) applies whether or not the subsequent contravention occurs within the area of the authority which served the enforcement notice.

(8) Any person who without reasonable excuse contravenes any requirement imposed on him under Article 125 or 126 shall be guilty of an offence.

(9) If any person—

(a) acts as a child minder on domestic premises at any time when he is disqualified by regulations made under Article 122; or

(b) provides day care for children under the age of twelve on premises (other than domestic premises) at any time when he is so disqualified; or

(c) contravenes paragraph (3), (4) or (5) of Article 122,

he shall be guilty of an offence.

(10) Where a person contravenes paragraph (3) of Article 122 he shall not be guilty of an offence under this Article if he proves that he did not know, and had no reasonable grounds for believing, that the person in question was living or employed in the household.

(11) Where a person contravenes paragraph (5) of Article 122 he shall not be guilty of an offence under this Article if he proves that he did not know, and had no reasonable grounds for believing, that the person whom he was employing was disqualified.

(12) Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of any power conferred by Article 130 shall be guilty of an offence.

(13) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable on summary conviction—

(a) in the case of an offence under paragraph (8), to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale;

(b) in the case of an offence under paragraph (9), to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both;

(c) in the case of an offence under paragraph (12), to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale;

(d) in the case of any other offence, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.