The Magistrates' Courts (Children and Young Persons) Rules 1988

Procedure after finding of guilt.

10.—(1) Where a child or young person is found guilty of an offence, whether after a plea of guilty or otherwise—

(a) he and his parent or guardian, if present, shall be given an opportunity of making a statement;

(b) the court shall take into consideration such information as to the general conduct, home surroundings, school record and medical history of the child or young person as may be necessary to enable it to deal with the case in his best interests and, in particular, shall take into consideration such information as aforesaid which is provided in pursuance of section 9 of the Act of 1969;

(c) if such information as aforesaid is not fully available, the court shall consider the desirability of remanding the child or young person for such inquiry as may be necessary;

(d) any written report of a probation officer, local authority, local education authority, educational establishment or registered medical practitioner may be received and considered by the court without being read aloud; and

(e) if the court considers it necessary in the interests of the child or young person, it may require him or his parent or guardian, if present, to withdraw from the court.

(2) The court shall arrange for copies of any written report before the court to be made available to:

(a) the legal representative, if any, of the child or young person;

(b) any parent or guardian of the child or young person who is present at the hearing; and

(c) the child or young person, except where the court otherwise directs on the ground that it appears to it impracticable to disclose the report having regard to the age and understanding of the child or young person or undesirable to do so having regard to serious harm which might thereby be suffered by him.

(3) In any case in which the child or young person is not legally represented and where a report which has not been made available to him in accordance with a direction under paragraph (2)(c) has been considered without being read aloud in pursuance of paragraph (1)(d) or where the child or young person, his parent or guardian has been required to withdraw from the court in pursuance of paragraph (1)(e), then—

(a) the child or young person shall be told the substance of any part of the information given to the court bearing on his character or conduct which the court considers to be material to the manner in which the case should be dealt with unless it appears to it impracticable so to do having regard to his age and understanding; and

(b) the parent or guardian of the child or young person, if present, shall be told the substance of any part of such information which the court considers to be material as aforesaid and which has reference to the character or conduct of the parent or guardian or to the character, conduct, home surroundings or health of the child or young person;

and if such a person, having been told the substance of any part of such information, desires to produce further evidence with reference thereto, the court, if it thinks the further evidence would be material, shall adjourn the proceedings for the production thereof and shall, if necessary in the case of a report, require the attendance at the adjourned hearing of the person who made the report.