Criminal Justice Act 1982

25 Restriction of liberty of children in care

(1) The following section shall be inserted after section 21 of the [1980 c. 5.] Child Care Act 1980—

“21A Use of accommodation for restricting liberty.

(1) Subject to regulations under subsection (2) (a) below, a child in the care of a local authority may not be placed, and, if placed, may not be kept, in accommodation provided for the purpose of restricting liberty 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 it is likely that his physical, mental or moral welfare will be at risk; or

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

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) specify—

(i) exceptional cases where subsection (1) above is not to apply to children committed to the care of a local authority under section 23 of the [1969 c. 54.] Children and Young Persons Act 1969 ;

(ii) a maximum period beyond which a child may not be kept in such accommodation without the authority of a juvenile court; and

(iii) a maximum period for which a juvenile court may authorise a child to be kept in such accommodation ;

(b) empower a juvenile court from time to time to authorise a child to be kept in such accommodation for such further period as the regulations may specify ; and

(c) provide that the power conferred by virtue of paragraph (b) above shall be exercisable on the application of the local authority in whose care the child is.

(3) It shall be the duty of a juvenile court before which a child is brought by virtue of this section to determine whether the criteria for keeping a child in accommodation provided for the purpose of restricting liberty are satisfied in his case; and if a court determines that the criteria are satisfied, it shall make an order authorising the child to be kept in such accommodation and specifying the maximum period for which he may be so kept.

(4) On any adjournment of a hearing under subsection (3) above a juvenile court may make an interim order permitting the keeping of the child to whom the hearing relates during the period of the adjournment in accommodation provided for the purpose of restricting liberty.

(5) An appeal shall lie to the Crown Court from a decision of a juvenile court under this section.

(6) A juvenile court shall not exercise the powers conferred by this section in respect of a child who is not legally represented in that court unless either—

(a) he applied for legal aid and the application was refused on the ground that it did not appear his means were such that he required assistance; or

(b) having been informed of his right to apply for legal aid and had the opportunity to do so, he refused or failed to apply.”.

(2) In the [1974 c. 4.] Legal Aid Act 1974—

(a) in section 28(3)(a) and (6), after " 1969 " there shall be inserted " or under section 21A of the [1980 c. 5.] Child Care Act 1980 "; and

(b) at the end of section 29(1)(d) there shall be inserted “or

(e) where a child is brought before a juvenile court under section 21A of the Child Care Act 1980 and is not (but wishes to be) legally represented before that court.”.