Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (c. 47)

Restrictions on participating in regulated activity E+W

7 Barred person not to engage in regulated activity E+W

(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 subsection (1) is liable—

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

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F1 the general limit in a magistrates’ court], 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 subsection (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 subsection (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 section, Schedule 4 is modified as follows—

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

F2 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In relation to an offence committed before [F3 2 May 2022], the reference in subsection (2)(b) to [F4 the general limit in a magistrates’ court] must be taken to be a reference to six months.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 7(2)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F2 S. 7(5)(b)(c) repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 47, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F3 Words in s. 7(6) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F4 Words in s. 7(6) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

Commencement Information

I1 S. 7 in force at 12.10.2009 by S.I. 2009/2611, art. 2, Sch.

Prospective

F5 8 Person not to engage in regulated activity unless subject to monitoring E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5 S. 8 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 48, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

9 Use of barred person for regulated activity E+W

(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 the 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 section is liable—

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

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding [F6 the general limit in a magistrates’ court], 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 section 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 section, Schedule 4 is modified as follows—

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

F7 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F7 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) In relation to an offence committed before [F8 2 May 2022], the reference in subsection (3)(b) to [F9 the general limit in a magistrates’ court] must be taken to be a reference to six months.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in s. 9(3)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F7 S. 9(5)(b)(c) repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 49, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F8 Words in s. 9(6) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1

F9 Words in s. 9(6) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1

Commencement Information

I2 S. 9 in force at 12.10.2009 by S.I. 2009/2611, art. 2, Sch.

Prospective

F10 10 Use of person not subject to monitoring for regulated activity E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F10 S. 10 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 50, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F11 11 Regulated activity provider: failure to check E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F11 S. 11 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 51, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F12 12 Personnel suppliers: failure to check E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 12 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 52, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F13 13 Educational establishments: check on members of governing body E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F13 S. 13 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 53, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

F14 14 Office holders: offences E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 14 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 54, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)

Prospective

F15 15 Sections 13 and 14: checks E+W

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F15 S. 15 repealed (10.9.2012 immediately after the coming into force of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2157)) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 55, Sch. 10 Pt. 5 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2234, art. 2(aa)(bb)(ii)