Part 1

Orders with respect to children in family proceedings

Contact with children

Monitoring contact
2
After section 11G of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
(as inserted by section 1) insert—

Monitoring contact
11H
1
This section applies if in any family proceedings the court makes—
a
a contact order with respect to a child in favour of a person, or
b
an order varying such a contact order.
2
The court may ask an officer of the Service or a Welsh family proceedings officer—
a
to monitor whether an individual falling within subsection (3) complies with the contact order (or the contact order as varied);
b
to report to the court on such matters relating to the individual's compliance as the court may specify in the request.
3
An individual falls within this subsection if the contact order so made (or the contact order as so varied)—
a
requires the individual to allow contact with the child concerned;
b
names the individual as having contact with the child concerned; or
c
imposes a condition under section 11(7)(b) on the individual.
4
If the contact order (or the contact order as varied) includes a contact activity condition, a request under subsection (2) is to be treated as relating to the provisions of the order other than the contact activity condition.
5
The court may make a request under subsection (2)—
a
on making the contact order (or the order varying the contact order), or
b
at any time during the subsequent course of the proceedings as they relate to contact with the child concerned.
6
In making a request under subsection (2), the court is to specify the period for which the officer of the Service or Welsh family proceedings officer is to monitor compliance with the order; and the period specified may not exceed twelve months.
7
It shall be the duty of the officer of the Service or Welsh family proceedings officer to comply with any request under subsection (2).
8
The court may order any individual falling within subsection (3) to take such steps as may be specified in the order with a view to enabling the officer of the Service or Welsh family proceedings officer to comply with the court's request under subsection (2).
9
But the court may not make an order under subsection (8) with respect to an individual who is a child unless he is a parent of the child with respect to whom the order falling within subsection (1) was made.
10
A court may not make a request under subsection (2) in relation to a contact order that is an excepted order (within the meaning given by section 11B(4)).
S. 2 in force at 8.12.2008 by S.I. 2008/2870, art. 2(2)(b)