Children (Scotland) Act 1995

44 Prohibition of publication of proceedings at children’s hearing. U.K.

F1 [F2 (1) No person shall publish any matter in respect of proceedings before a sheriff on an application under section 76(1) of this Act which is intended to, or is likely to, identify—

(a) the child concerned in, or any other child connected (in any way) with, the proceedings; or

(b) any address or school as being that of any such child.]

(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale in respect of each such contravention.

(3) It shall be a defence in proceedings for an offence under this section for the accused to prove that he did not know, and had no reason to suspect, that the published matter was intended, or was likely, to identify the child or, as the case may be, the address or school.

(4) In this section “to publish” includes, without prejudice to the generality of that expression,—

(a) to publish matter in a programme service, as defined by section 201 of the M1 Broadcasting Act 1990 (definition of programme service); and

(b) to cause matter to be published.

(5) The requirements of subsection (1) above may, in the interests of justice, be dispensed with by—

(a) the sheriff in any proceedings before him;

F3 F4 (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F3 F4 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

to such extent as the sheriff F5 F6 ... considers appropriate.

F7 [F8 (6) The requirements of subsection (1) do not apply in relation to the publication by or on behalf of a local authority or an adoption agency (within the meaning of the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 4)) of information about a child for the purposes of making arrangements in relation to the child under this Act or that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 44(1) substituted (S.) (30.9.2015) by Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), s. 102(3), sch. 5 para. 4(4)(a); S.S.I. 2015/317, art. 2, sch. (with art. 3)

F2 S. 44(1) substituted (E.W.N.I.) (30.9.2015) by The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/907), arts. 1(3), 2(2)(a) (with art. 4)

F3 S. 44(5)(b)(c) omitted (E.W.N.I.) (30.9.2015) by virtue of The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/907), arts. 1(3), 2(2)(b)(i) (with art. 4)

F4 S. 44(5)(b)(c) omitted (S.) (30.9.2015) by virtue of Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), s. 102(3), sch. 5 para. 4(4)(b)(i); S.S.I. 2015/317, art. 2, sch. (with art. 3); S.S.I. 2015/317, art. 2, sch. (with art. 3)

F5 Words in s. 44(5) omitted (S.) (30.9.2015) by virtue of Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (asp 8), s. 102(3), sch. 5 para. 4(4)(b)(ii); S.S.I. 2015/317, art. 2, sch. (with art. 3)

F6 Words in s. 44(5) omitted (E.W.N.I.) (30.9.2015) by virtue of The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (Consequential and Saving Provisions) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/907), arts. 1(3), 2(2)(b)(ii) (with art. 4)

F7 S. 44(6) inserted (S.) (7.4.2008) by Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 4), ss. 120(1), 121(2), Sch. 2 para. 9(5); S.S.I. 2008/130, art. 2, Sch.

F8 S. 44(6) inserted (E.W.N.I.) (15.7.2011) by The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1740), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 3(2)

Marginal Citations

M1 1990 c.42.