Child Abduction Act 1984
1984 c. 37An Act to amend the criminal law relating to the abduction of children
Enacted[12th July1984]
I1Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
Part I Offences under Law of England and Wales¶
1 Offence of abduction of child by parent, etc.¶
2 Offence of abduction of child by other persons. C1¶
3 Construction of references to taking, sending and detaining.¶
For the purposes of this Part of this Act—4 Penalties and prosecutions.¶
5 Restriction on prosecutions for offence of kidnapping.¶
Except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions no prosecution shall be instituted for an offence of kidnapping if it was committed—Part II Offence under Law of Scotland¶
6 Offence in Scotland of parent, etc. taking or sending child out of United Kingdom.¶
Provided that, in relation to a child to whom more than one order referred to in subsection (1)(a) above applies, the appropriate consent may be that of any court which has granted an order as referred to in the said subsection (1)(a); and where one of these orders is an order referred to in the said subsection (1)(a)(ii) no other person as referred to in paragraph (a)(i) above shall be entitled to give the appropriate consent.
F397 Power of arrest.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Penalties and prosecutions.¶
A person guilty of an offence under this Part of this Act shall be liable—9 Proof and admissibility of certain documents.¶
10 Evidence.¶
In any proceedings in relation to an offence under this Part of this Act it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that the child named in the order referred to in section 6(1) above, or in any copy thereof, is the child in relation to whom the proceedings have been taken.Part III Supplementary¶
11 Consequential amendments and repeals.¶
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12 Enactment of corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.¶
An Order in Council under paragraph 1(1)(b) of schedule 1 to the M8Northern Ireland Act 1974 (legislation for Northern Ireland in the interim period) which contains a statement that it operates only so as to make for Northern Ireland provision corresponding to Part I of this Act—13 Short title, commencement and extent.¶
SCHEDULE ¶
Modifications of Section 1 for Children in Certain Cases
Section 1(8).
Children in care of local authorities and voluntary organisations¶
Children in places of safety¶
Adoption and custodianship¶
Cases within paragraphs 1 and 3¶
Interpretation¶
Footnotes
- I1Act wholly in force at 12.10.1984 see s. 13(2)
- F1S. 1(2)-(4)(4A) substituted (14.10.1991) for s. 1(2)-(4) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 37(2) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F2S. 1(5A) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 37(3) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F3S. 1(7) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 37(4) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F4Words in s. 1(8) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 37(5) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- C1S. 2 excluded (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 51(7)(d), (with Sch. 14 para 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F5Words in s. 2(1) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 38(1) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F6S. 2(2)(3) substituted (14.10.1991)by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 38(2) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F7Word in s. 3(b) repealed (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(7), Sch.15 (with Sch. 14 paras. 1(1), 27(4)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F8S. 3(d) and the word “and” immediately preceding it added (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para.39 (with Sch. 14 para. 14(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F9Words in s. 4(1)(a) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt.XIV
- F10Words in s. 6(1)(a)(i) inserted (1.11.1996) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 34(a); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3, Sch.
- F11Words in s. 6(2)(b) inserted (1.11.1996) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 34(b); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3, Sch.
- F12Words substituted by Law Reform (Parent and Child) (Scotland) Act 1986 (c. 9, SIF 49:8), ss. 9, 10(1), Sch. 1 para. 20(a)
- F13Words in s. 6(3)(a)(i)(b) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(1), Sch. 4 para. 34(c); S.I. 1996/2203, art. 3, Sch.
- F14Words in s. 6(7) repealed by Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 (c. 50, SIF 49), s. 10(2), Sch.2 (with s. 1(3)).
- F15Words in s. 8(a) repealed (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. 50, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. XIV
- M11952 c. 67.
- M21968 c. 27.
- M31978 c. 17.
- M41978 c. 26.
- M51861 c. 100.
- M61870 c. 52.
- M71968 c. 27.
- M81974 c. 28.
- F16Words In the Schedule para. 1(1) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para.40(2) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F17Words in the Schedule para. 1(2)(a)repealed (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(7), Sch.15 (with Sch. 14 paras. 1(1), 27(4)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F18Sch. 1 para. 2(1)(a)(b) substituted (14.10.1991)by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 40(3) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F19Sch. para. 3(3) added (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para. 40(6) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F20Sch. para. 5 (a)(b) substituted (14.10.1991) for Sch. para. 5 containing (1)-(4) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), s. 108(4), Sch. 12 para.40(7) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)
- F21Words in Sch. para. 5(b) repealed (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 106, 180(3)(f), Sch. 15 Pt. V(1) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 36(9))
- F22Words in s. 11(3) inserted (26.4.2004) by Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32), s. 94(1), Sch. 5 para. 10; S.I. 2004/786, art. 3(1)(2)
- F23S. 1(2)(ca) inserted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 42(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F24S. 1(3)(a)(iiia) inserted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 42(3) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F25S. 1(4)(a)(b) substituted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 42(4) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F26S. 1(5A)(a)(ia) inserted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 42(5) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F27Words in s. 1(7)(a) inserted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 42(6) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F28Sch. paras. 3(1) (2) substituted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 43(2) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8, 21); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F29Words in Sch. para. 5(a) substituted (30.12.2005) by Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38), s. 148(1), Sch. 3 para. 43(3) (with Sch. 4 paras. 6-8, 21); S.I. 2005/2213, art. 2(o)
- F30Sch. para. 2(1)(aa) inserted (1.4.2010) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), Sch. 7 para. 20(a); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(v)(x); S.I. 2010/507, art. 5(v)(x)
- F31Words in s. 1(8) substituted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 12 para. 19; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(j)
- F32Words in Sch. para. 2(2)(a) inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), s. 151(1), Sch. 12 para. 20(c); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(j) (with art. 7(2)(3)); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(j) (with art. 7(2)(3))
- F33Sch. para. 2(2)(bb) and word inserted (3.12.2012) by Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (c. 10), Sch. 12 para. 20(b); S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(j);
- F34Words in s. 1(4)(a) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 47(4); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10)
- F35Words in s. 1(7)(a) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 47(6); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10)
- F36Words in s. 1(2)(d) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 47(2); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10)
- F37S. 1(3)(a)(iv) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 47(3); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10)
- F38S. 1(5A)(a)(i) substituted (22.4.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 2 para. 47(5); S.I. 2014/889, art. 4(f) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2014/1042, arts. 3, 4, 6-10)
- F39S. 7 repealed (25.1.2018) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1), s. 117(2), sch. 2 para. 8; S.S.I. 2017/345, art. 3, sch.
- F40Words in s. 1(2)(b) inserted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 9(a)
- F41Words in s. 2(2)(a) inserted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 9(b)
- F42Words in s. 2(2)(b) inserted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 9(b)
- F43Words in s. 2(3)(a) inserted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 9(b)
- F44Words in s. 3(d) inserted (2.12.2019) by The Civil Partnership (Opposite-sex Couples) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1458), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 9(c)
- F45Sch. para. 2(1)(a) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 75(a) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
- F46Sch. para. 2(1)(b) substituted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 75(b) (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2