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Child Safety Orders

By: Angela Armes - Updated: 22 Nov 2020 | comments*Discuss
 
Child Safety Order Cso Asbo Anti-social

It is difficult to comprehend that children under 10 years of age would engage in criminal activities or behaviour that would make them known to the police, but unfortunately that is the case.

To help deal with the problem the Child Safety Order (CSO) has been set in place. This is a court order aimed at children of 10 years of age and under to stop them becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. A Child Safety Order is used when there are no other means available of trying to ensure the cessation of any behaviour considered to be criminal by a child.

Why are Child Safety Orders Granted?

A CSO will be granted if there is sufficient concerns about the behaviour of a child in the care of his or her family. If there is reason to suspect that the child's behaviour is a direct result of problems within the family unit, a Child Safety Order may be issued by the Family Proceedings Court in order to allow for the intervention and supervision of either local authority and/or Youth Offending Teams.

The implementation of a Child Safety Order is the equivalent to an Anti-Social Behaviour Order and as such carries with it similar terms and conditions.

For example, under the terms of a Child Safety Order the child governed by it may not:

  • Be seen to be in a particular area without relevant adult supervision
  • Be outside the family home after a designated time – reminiscent of a Curfew
  • Be seen to be in the company of other children considered to be influential to the child
  • Be absent from school without good reason or prior knowledge of both school and parents

Depending on the nature of the child's behaviour and the reasons behind the implementation of the Child Safety Order, there may be other conditions entered into. The aforementioned are some of the most common.

What Happens if a Child Safety Order is Breached?

As the child under the supervision of a Child Safety Order is not of prosecutable age, he or she is not liable to any criminal proceedings if conditions of the order are broken. However, given specific circumstances, the local authority involved may pursue – in conjunction with the court – a Parenting Order which in turn makes the parents responsible for the behaviour of the child.

The idea of a Parenting Order is to encourage the child's parents to make sure that he or she abides by the conditions laid down, and failure to do so may result in the handing down of a fine which can be a minimum of £1,000. In certain circumstances which are indicative of particular unruly behaviour, both a Child Safety Order and Parenting Order may be implemented as a means of combating behaviour that constitutes anti-social and criminal behaviour.

For further information, contact your local authority, Community police officer or Youth Offending Team.

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[Add a Comment]
My safeguarding leader asked a student to become their baby/daughter and i said yes but i am still with my parents but i don't want them anymore but they are making arrangements for me to go out with them but i don't too but i have too. i keep going home in the holidays and in half terms and now it feels awkward to be around them and now i have to avoid them but how.
klloyd - 22-Nov-20 @ 5:13 PM
My friend's mother has kicked her child out of the house, she is 14-15 years old, and is currently staying at my house. Is there anything that could happen to her mother if she doesn't let her back into her home?
Lilith - 17-Oct-19 @ 3:47 AM
chrometiger1986 - Your Question:
I am 32. I just gained paternity through the courts proving that my father was indeed my father. He still wants nothing to do with me though. Can I sue for abandonment or gain any form of psychological compensation because he abandoned me and my mother and the experience of it has had a major impact on my life ?

Our Response:
We're not aware of any laws relating to this, you should seek professional legal advice if you want to take out a law suit.
LawAndParents - 27-Apr-18 @ 10:53 AM
I am 32. I just gained paternity through the courts proving that my father was indeed my father. He still wants nothing to do with me though. Can I sue for abandonment or gain any form of psychological compensation because he abandoned me and my mother and the experience of it has had a major impact on my life ?
chrometiger1986 - 24-Apr-18 @ 1:11 PM
I’m 17years if age & my mum& dad fought custody over me wen I was 5 years old for a long duration of time until my mum won the case against my dad, she took me, a under 5 & my dad took my older brother& sister who already made there minds up about who they were living with. The courts came to the agreement my mum was deemed fit enough to be my ‘legal guardian ‘ & to have custody of me until I’m 18 & that has been the case until My mother ran away to another country with her boyfriend & changing the locks to my house whilst I was away on a break in Yorkshire... I returned for there to be no sign of her... is this her abandoning me? Could I get emergency housing without going into care? Will I be forced to live with family temporarily until I am put into care? (Baring in mind social services are on my case as it ia... I’m currently staying at a hotel & running out of money, idea’s,time and energy.... I am no longer in education I quit collage a few months ago & I quit my apprenticeship a couple weeks ago no maths gcse so can’t even work atm... any advice at all is helpful thank you for your time.
Jasmineee21 - 7-Feb-18 @ 3:31 AM
Meme - Your Question:
I have my step neice for 5 years with no help from eitherMom are dad she hasn't seen are talk to them they abandoned her what are my chances for child support she is 15 and doesn't want to go back with them.

Our Response:
You may be eligible for child benefit and child tax credits - the Turn2Us website will be useful for this. If you are paying for everything, then it might be worth talking to the parents to see if they are willing to pay anything else to help support.
LawAndParents - 5-Dec-17 @ 12:45 PM
I have my step neice for 5 years with no help from either Mom are dad she hasn't seen are talk to them they abandoned her what are my chances for child support she is 15 and doesn't want to go back with them.
Meme - 2-Dec-17 @ 4:03 PM
scottyboy - Your Question:
Hi can anyone help me just found out the foster careres took our kids on holiday without our permission can anyone let me know what my rights are to put a stop to this plz as am not happy

Our Response:
Unless specific conditions have been put in place stating that permission should be sought, then yes they can take the foster children on holiday. Why are you not happy about this? Did your children not enjoy the holiday?
LawAndParents - 20-Oct-16 @ 2:22 PM
hi can anyone help me just found out the foster careres took our kids on holiday without our permission can anyone let me know what my rights are to put a stop to thisplz as am not happy
scottyboy - 18-Oct-16 @ 8:09 PM
Mam or sir Small doubt my wife house talking for my first daughter education.But I can't not accept for this.I am take care for mychild.Age 7 years.how to solve this problem. Then any way they didn't come my way. Any ideas please tell me.
vichu - 7-Oct-16 @ 9:42 PM
Writer - Your Question:
If a person finds an abandoned child and keeps it, treating it nicely and caring for it, what happens to this person when the child is turned in to the authorities, especially if the person crossed state lines with the child?

Our Response:
Sorry but this is a UK based site, so we cannot advise onnon UK issues. If that were to happen here in the UK, you'd be charged with abduction.
LawAndParents - 6-Jun-16 @ 11:11 AM
If a person finds an abandoned child and keeps it, treating it nicely and caring for it, what happens to this person when the child is turned in to the authorities, especially if the person crossed state lines with the child?
Writer - 3-Jun-16 @ 5:57 PM
i have a 13yr old granddaughter who keeps running away from home and getting into trouble she keeps saying she wants to go into care as one of her friends is in care,she as said she doesnt want to stay with mum so mum as asked me to look after her because she can not cope.i did have her stay with me for 2wks only for mum to demand her home so no changes happened and she was in trouble again with-in the week she returned home,social services are involved now and ive been told i will have to go to court to get her so her mum can not demand her back, as a grandmother i am worried about her and need to know my rights to go forward....thankyou
chrisy - 8-Aug-15 @ 5:50 PM
@chey. It would not be advisable to go to the UK if your father is not living here...unless your mother is a British Citizen (you have not mentioned whether she is or not). The UK courts would not be able to help unless you father can be traced and if he is living in the UK (and is a British citizen). By that time you may also be too old to be eligible for child support from him.
LawAndParents - 29-Oct-14 @ 11:29 AM
Hi, i have been wanting to know what are my rights, or what is the best advise you can give me, i am 17 years old,my father abandoned me and my mother for almost 10 years,they are legally married in court,the last time we heard his in the Middle East. My mother has been supporting me,but she cannot hardly send me to school, as her salary is not enough. Do i stand a chance to be helped as i am here in the Philippines, i still cannot afford to go to U.K. is there an organization that can help me? I feel deprived of my rights to child support and education as a British citizen. is going to U.K. the best thing to do? I would appreciate to hear a legal advise directly from U.K. Thankyou for your time.
Chey - 27-Oct-14 @ 6:40 AM
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