18Parenting orders under the 1998 Act
(1)Section 8 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c. 37) is amended as follows.
(2)For subsections (4) and (5) substitute—
“(4)A parenting order is an order which requires the parent—
(a)to comply, for a period not exceeding twelve months, with such requirements as are specified in the order, and
(b)subject to subsection (5) below, to attend, for a concurrent period not exceeding three months, such counselling or guidance programme as may be specified in directions given by the responsible officer.
(5)A parenting order may, but need not, include such a requirement as is mentioned in subsection (4)(b) above in any case where a parenting order under this section or any other enactment has been made in respect of the parent on a previous occasion.”
(3)After subsection (7) insert—
“(7A)A counselling or guidance programme which a parent is required to attend by virtue of subsection (4)(b) above may be or include a residential course but only if the court is satisfied—
(a)that the attendance of the parent at a residential course is likely to be more effective than his attendance at a non-residential course in preventing any such repetition or, as the case may be, the commission of any such further offence, and
(b)that any interference with family life which is likely to result from the attendance of the parent at a residential course is proportionate in all the circumstances.”