http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/section/39AMental Health Act 1983An Act to consolidate the law relating to mentally disordered persons.1983-05-09texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-09Expert Participation2026-04-06 Part III Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Hospital and guardianship orders<CommentaryRef Ref="c10387451"/><Addition ChangeId="d29p5148">Information to facilitate guardianship orders.</Addition>39AWhere a court is minded to make a guardianship order in respect of any offender, it may request the local social services authority for the area in which the offender resides or last resided, or any other local social services authority that appears to the court to be appropriate—ato inform the court whether it or any other person approved by it is willing to receive the offender into guardianship; andbif so, to give such information as it reasonably can about how it or the other person could be expected to exercise in relation to the offender the powers conferred by section 40(2) below;and that authority shall comply with any such request.S. 39A inserted (E.W.) (1.10.1992)by Criminal Justice Act 1991 (c. 53, SIF 39:1), s. 27(1) (with saving in s. 28); S.I. 1992/333, art. 2(2), Sch.2.Pt. 3: certain defintions applied (E.W.) (1.1.1992) by Criminal Procedure (Insanity and Unfitness to Plead) Act 1991 (c. 25, SIF 39:1), s. 6(2); S.I. 1991/2488, art. 2Pt. 3 applied in part (17.4.2024) by The Armed Forces (Appeals Against Review of Sentence) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/619), regs. 1(2), 6(5)(6), 29(6)(7); S.I. 2024/562, reg. 2