Child Care Act 1980

13 Penalty for assisting children in care under s. 2 to run away etc.

(1) Any person who—

(a) knowingly assists or induces or persistently attempts to induce a child to whom this subsection applies to run away, or

(b) without lawful authority takes away such a child, or

(c) knowingly harbours or conceals such a child who has run away or who has been taken away or prevents him from returning,

shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £400 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

This subsection applies to any child in the care of a local authority under section 2 of this Act with respect to whom a resolution is in force under section 3 of this Act and for whom accommodation (whether in a home or otherwise) is being provided by the local authority in pursuance of Part III of this Act.

(2) Except in relation to an act done—

(a) with the consent of the local authority or

(b) by a parent or guardian of the child who has given the local authority not less than twenty-eight days' notice of his intention to do it,

subsection (1) above shall apply to a child in the care of a local authority under section 2 of this Act (notwithstanding that no resolution is in force under section 3 of this Act with respect to the child) if he has been in the care of that local authority throughout the preceding six months; and for the purposes of the application of paragraph (b) of that subsection in such a case a parent or guardian of the child shall not be taken to have lawful authority to take him away.

(3) References in subsection (1) above to running away or taking away or to returning are references to running away or taking away from, or to returning to, a place where accommodation is or was being provided in pursuance of Part III of this Act by the local authority in whose care the child is.

(4) Where an order of any court is in force giving custody of a child to any person, this section shall have effect in relation to that child as if for references to a parent or guardian of the child there were substituted references to that person.

(5) The Secretary of State may by order a draft of which has been approved by each House of Parliament amend subsection (2) above by substituting a different period for the period of twenty-eight days or of six months mentioned in that subsection, or by substituting a different period for any period substituted by a previous order under this subsection.