Children (Scotland) Act 1995

66 Warrant to keep child where children’s hearing unable to dispose of case

(1) Without prejudice to any other power enjoyed by them under this Part of this Act and subject to subsection (5) below, a children’s hearing—

(a) arranged to consider a child’s case under this Part of this Act; and

(b) unable to dispose of the case,

may, if they are satisfied that one of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below is met, grant a warrant under this subsection.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a) that there is reason to believe that the child may—

(i) not attend at any hearing of his case; or

(ii) fail to comply with a requirement under section 69(3) of this Act; or

(b) that it is necessary that the child should be kept in a place of safety in order to safeguard or promote his welfare.

(3) A warrant under subsection (1) above may require any person named in the warrant—

(a) to find and to keep or, as the case may be, to keep the child in a place of safety for a period not exceeding twenty-two days after the warrent is granted;

(b) to bring the child before a children’s hearing at such times as may be specified in the warrant.

(4) A warrant under subsection (1) above may contain such conditions as appear to the children’s hearing to be necessary or expedient, and without prejudice to that generality may—

(a) subject to section 90 of this Act, require the child to submit to any medical or other examination or treatment; and

(b) regulate the contact with the child of any specified person or class of persons.

(5) Subject to subsection (8) below, at any time prior to its expiry, a warrant granted under this section may, on an application to the children’s hearing, on cause shown by the Principal Reporter, be continued in force, whether with or without variation of any conditions imposed by virtue of subsection (4) above, by the children’s hearing for such further period, not exceeding twenty-two days, as appears to them to be necessary.

(6) Where a children’s hearing are satisfied that either of the criteria specified in section 70(10) of this Act are satisfied, they may order that, pending the disposal of his case, the child shall be liable to be placed and kept in secure accommodation within a residential establishment at such times as the person in charge of that establishment, with the agreement of the chief social work officer of the relevant local authority, considers necessary.

(7) Where a children’s hearing grant a warrant under subsection (1) above or continue such a warrant under subsection (5) above, they may order that the place of safety at which the child is to be kept shall not be disclosed to any person or class of persons specified in the order.

(8) A child shall not be kept in a place of safety or secure accommodation by virtue of this section for a period exceeding sixty-six days from the day when he was first taken to a place of safety under a warrant granted under subsection (1) above.