Child protection

Question 1

Police protection (PPO) - s.46 Children Act 1989

Answer 1

Power 1 - Remove child (under 18) to suitable accommodation and keep them there

Power 2 – take reasonable steps to ensure child is not removed from accommodation
Constable believes (objective) - child would otherwise likely to suffer significant harm
Police protection: maximum 72 hours

Harm: impairment of physical, mental health or impairment of physical, emotional, social or behavioural development.

Significant harm causes: ill treatment directed towards the child themselves or the child seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another person

Question 2

Contravention of a protection order or police protection – s.49 Children Act 1989

Answer 2

A person
* knowingly; and
* without lawful authority or reasonable excuse,
* in relation to a child who is in care or subject to an EPO or in police protection,
* takes the child away from the responsible person or keep the child away; or
* they induce, assist or incite a child to run away or stay away from the responsible person.

Question 3

Emergency protection order (EPO)

Answer 3

The designated officer may also apply for an emergency protection order (EPO)

Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs)
Scope 1 – order the removal of a child to accommodation
Scope 2 – order preventing the removal of a child from any other accommodation (including hospital) where they were accommodated immediately before the making of the order
Scope 3 – order excluding persons from the dwelling where a child lives
Scope 4 – directions for contact with the child
Scope 5 – directions for psychiatric or medical assessment
Scope 6 – grant parental responsibility to the applicant for the duration of the EPO