Children Act 1989

Changes to legislation:

Children Act 1989, Cross Heading: Secure accommodation is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 24 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 4(1A)(aa) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 21(3)
s. 4(1C) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 21(4)
s. 4ZA(2)(aa) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 22(3)
s. 4ZA(3A) inserted by 2009 c. 24 Sch. 6 para. 22(4)
s. 8(4)(k) inserted by 2021 c. 17 s. 52(1)
s. 31A(4A) inserted by 2014 c. 6 s. 15(2)(b)

Secure accommodationE+W+S

25 Use of accommodation for restricting liberty.E+W+S

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a child who is being looked after by a local authority [F1in England or Wales] may not be placed, and, if placed, may not be kept, in accommodation [F2in England] [F3or Scotland] provided for the purpose of restricting liberty (“secure accommodation”) unless it appears—

(a)that—

(i)he has a history of absconding and is likely to abscond from any other description of accommodation; and

(ii)if he absconds, he is likely to suffer significant harm; or

(b)that if he is kept in any other description of accommodation he is likely to injure himself or other persons.

(2)The [F4Secretary of State] may by regulations—

(a)specify a maximum period—

(i)beyond which a child may not be kept in secure accommodation [F5in England] [F6or Scotland] without the authority of the court; and

(ii)for which the court may authorise a child to be kept in secure accommodation [F7in England] [F6or Scotland] ;

(b)empower the court from time to time to authorise a child to be kept in secure accommodation [F8in England] [F9or Scotland] for such further period as the regulations may specify; and

(c)provide that applications to the court under this section shall be made only by local authorities [F10in England or Wales] .

(3)It shall be the duty of a court hearing an application under this section to determine whether any relevant criteria for keeping a child in secure accommodation are satisfied in his case.

(4)If a court determines that any such criteria are satisfied, it shall make an order authorising the child to be kept in secure accommodation and specifying the maximum period for which he may be so kept.

(5)On any adjournment of the hearing of an application under this section, a court may make an interim order permitting the child to be kept during the period of the adjournment in secure accommodation.

[F11(5A)Where a local authority in England or Wales are authorised under this section to keep a child in secure accommodation in Scotland, the person in charge of the accommodation may restrict the child’s liberty to the extent that the person considers appropriate, having regard to the terms of any order made by a court under this section.]

(6)No court shall exercise the powers conferred by this section in respect of a child who is not legally represented in that court unless, having been informed of his right to apply for [F12the provision of representation under Part 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012] and having had the opportunity to do so, he refused or failed to apply.

(7)The [F13Secretary of State] may by regulations provide that—

(a)this section shall or shall not apply to any description of children specified in the regulations;

(b)this section shall have effect in relation to children of a description specified in the regulations subject to such modifications as may be so specified;

(c)such other provisions as may be so specified shall have effect for the purpose of determining whether a child of a description specified in the regulations may be placed or kept in secure accommodation [F14in England] [F15or Scotland] .

[F16(d)a child may only be placed in secure accommodation that is of a description specified in the regulations (and the description may in particular be framed by reference to whether the accommodation, or the person providing it, has been approved by the Secretary of State or the Scottish Ministers).]

(8)The giving of an authorisation under this section shall not prejudice any power of any court in England and Wales or Scotland to give directions relating to the child to whom the authorisation relates.

[F17(8A)Sections 168 and 169(1) to (4) of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 1) (enforcement and absconding) apply in relation to an order under subsection (4) above as they apply in relation to the orders mentioned in section 168(3) or 169(1)(a) of that Act.]

(9)This section is subject to section 20(8).

Extent Information

E1S. 25 extends to England and Wales with the exception of s. 25(8) which extends to Great Britain. See s. 108(11)(12).

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 25(1) substituted (27.4.2017) by Children and Social Work Act 2017 (c. 16), s. 70(1)(a), Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(a)

F2Words in s. 25(1) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 86(a)(ii)

F3Words in s. 25(1) inserted (27.4.2017) by Children and Social Work Act 2017 (c. 16), s. 70(1)(a), Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b)

F4Words in s. 25(2) substituted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 86(b)

F5Words in s. 25(2)(a)(i) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 86(c)

F6Words in s. 25(2)(a)(i)(ii) inserted (27.4.2017) by Children and Social Work Act 2017 (c. 16), s. 70(1)(a), Sch. 1 para. 2(3)(a)

F7Words in s. 25(2)(a)(ii) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 86(c)

F8Words in s. 25(2)(b) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 86(c)