Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017—1.1.2024
Chapter 7—Children and young people in care
Part 2—Children and young people in Chief Executive's custody or guardianship
52 Published under the Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002
86—Direction not to communicate with, be in company of, harbour or conceal
child or young person
(1) The Chief Executive may, by notice in writing, direct a specified person not to
communicate, or attempt to communicate, (whether in any way or in a way specified
in the notice) with a specified child or young person who is in the custody, or under
the guardianship, of the Chief Executive during the period specified in the notice.
(1a) The Chief Executive may, by notice in writing, direct a specified person not to be in
the company of, or otherwise associate with, a specified child or young person who is
in the custody, or under the guardianship, of the Chief Executive during the period
specified in the notice.
(2) The Chief Executive may, by notice in writing, direct a person not to harbour or
conceal, or assist another person to harbour or conceal, a specified child or young
person who is in the custody, or under the guardianship, of the Chief Executive during
the period in the notice.
(3) However, the Chief Executive may only give a direction under this section if the Chief
Executive believes it is reasonably necessary to—
(a) prevent harm to the child or young person; or
(b) prevent the child or young person from engaging in, or being exposed to,
conduct of a criminal nature.
(4) A person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with a direction
under this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty:
(a) for a first offence—Imprisonment for 3 years; or
(b) for a second or subsequent offence—Imprisonment for 4 years.
(4a) Despite section 267 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 or any other Act or
law, a child or young person—
(a) with whom a person communicates, or attempts to communicate, in
contravention of a direction under this section; or
(b) in whose company a person is, or with whom a person associates, in
contravention of a direction under this section; or
(c) who is harboured or concealed in contravention of a direction under this
section,
commits no offence in relation to that conduct.
(5) A notice under this section must be served personally on the person to whom the
notice is directed (however, if it is not reasonably practicable to serve a notice
personally on a person, or the whereabouts of the person cannot, after reasonable
enquiries, be ascertained, the notice may be served on that person in accordance with
section 168).
(6) Despite a provision of the Evidence Act 1929 or any other Act or law, a child or young
person to whom a direction under this section relates is competent, but is not
compellable, to give evidence in proceedings relating to a charge of an offence against
this section.