Part III Protection of Children of Service Families

18 Content, effect, variation and discharge of assessment orders.

1

An assessment order shall—

a

specify the date by which the assessment is to begin; and

b

have effect for such period, not exceeding seven days beginning with that date, as may be specified in the order.

2

Where an assessment order is in force with respect to a child, it shall be the duty of any person who is in a position to produce the child—

a

to produce him to such person as may be named in the order; and

b

to comply with such directions relating to the assessment of the child as the F4judge advocate making the order considers appropriate to include in the order.

3

Subject to subsection (4) below, an assessment order authorises any person carrying out the assessment, or any part of the assessment, to do so in accordance with the terms of the order.

4

If the child to whom an assessment order relates is of sufficient understanding to make an informed decision, he may refuse to submit to a medical or psychiatric examination or other assessment.

5

The child to whom an assessment order relates may only be kept away from home—

a

in accordance with directions included in the order; and

b

if it is necessary for the purposes of the assessment; and

c

for such period or periods as may be specified in the order.

6

Where the child to whom an assessment order relates is to be kept away from home, the order shall contain such directions as the F5judge advocate making it considers appropriate with regard to the contact that the child must be allowed to have with other persons while away from home.

7

In such circumstances and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by regulations, an assessment order may be varied or discharged on an application made, in such manner as may be so prescribed, by—

a

the child to whom the order relates;

b

a parent of his;

c

any other person who has parental responsibility for him;

d

any other person caring for the child or with whom the child was residing immediately before the making of the application;

F11da

any person who is named in a child arrangements order as a person with whom the child is to live, spend time or otherwise have contact;

F12db

any person in whose favour an order under section 51A of the Adoption and Children Act 2002 (post-adoption contact) is in force with respect to the child;

e

any person in whose favour a contact order is in force with respect to the child; or

f

any person who is allowed to have contact with the child by virtue of an order F1—

i

under section 34 of the M1Children Act 1989 F2or Article 53 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995F3; or

ii

under section 88 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995

8

A person subject to service law F6, or a civilian subject to service discipline, commits an offence if he intentionally obstructs any person exercising a power conferred F7... by virtue of the making of an assessment order F8...M2.

F108A

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable to any punishment mentioned in rows 5 to F1314 of the Table in section 164 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.

8B

For the purposes of determining the court's powers when sentencing a civilian offender (within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Armed Forces Act 2006) for an offence under this section, subsection (8A) has effect as if the reference to rows 5 to F1614 were to rows 2 to F179.

8C

For the purposes of determining the court's powers when sentencing an offender to whom Part 2 of that Schedule applies (ex-servicemen etc) for an offence under this section, subsection (8A) has effect as if the reference to rows 5 to F1414 were to rows 5 to F1512.

F99

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10

Any power conferred by this section to give directions shall be exercisable subject to, and in accordance with, any provision made by regulations.