Part 3Parental responsibilities
Criminal conduct and anti-social behaviour
26BF1Parenting orders in respect of anti-social behaviour: F6relevant housing providers
1
A F5relevant housing provider may apply for a parenting order in respect of a parent of a child or young person if—
a
the F5relevant housing provider has reason to believe that the child or young person has engaged in anti-social behaviour, and
b
the behaviour in question directly or indirectly relates to or affects the housing management functions of the F5relevant housing provider .
An application for such an order may be made to a magistrates' court or, where section 26C so allows, to F7the county court .
2
If such an application is made, the court may make a parenting order in respect of a parent of the child or young person if it is satisfied—
a
that the child or young person has engaged in anti-social behaviour, and
b
that making the order would be desirable in the interests of preventing the child or young person from engaging in further anti-social behaviour.
3
A parenting order is an order which requires the parent—
a
to comply, for a period not exceeding twelve months, with such requirements as are specified in the order, and
b
subject to subsection (4), to attend, for a concurrent period not exceeding three months, such counselling or guidance programme as may be specified in directions given by the responsible officer.
4
A parenting order under this section may, but need not, include a requirement mentioned in subsection (3)(b) in any case where a parenting order under this section or any other enactment has been made in respect of the parent on a previous occasion.
5
A counselling or guidance programme which a parent is required to attend by virtue of subsection (3)(b) may be or include a residential course but only if the court is satisfied that the following two conditions are fulfilled.
6
The first condition is that the attendance of the parent at a residential course is likely to be more effective than his attendance at a non-residential course in preventing the child or young person from engaging in further anti-social behaviour.
7
The second condition is that any interference with family life which is likely to result from the attendance of the parent at a residential course is proportionate in all the circumstances.
8
F28A
This subsection applies if the place where the child or young person resides or appears to reside is within the area of a county council and within the area of a district council.
9
A person is eligible to be the responsible officer in relation to a parenting order under this section only if he is—
a
an officer of the F5relevant housing provider which applied for the order, or
b
a person nominated by that F5relevant housing provider .
A person may not be nominated under paragraph (b) without his consent.
10
In deciding whom to nominate under subsection (9)(b) a F5relevant housing provider must take into account the views of—
a
the local authority F4(or authorities) mentioned in subsection (8), and
b
such other persons or bodies as the F5relevant housing provider thinks appropriate.