Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017

15

Amendment of section 1 of Act of 2006

15. Section 1 of the Act of 2006 is amended—

(a) by the substitution of the following definition for the definition of “person in authority”:

“ ‘person in authority’, in relation to a child against whom an offence is alleged to have been committed, means—

(a) a parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt whether of the whole blood, of the half blood or by affinity of the child,

(b) a current or former guardian or foster parent of the child,

(c) a current or former step-parent of the child,

(d) a current or former partner of a parent of the child who lives or has lived in an enduring family relationship with the parent,

(e) any person who is for the time being, or has been, in loco parentis to the child, or

(f) any other person who is or has been responsible for the education, supervision, training, care or welfare of the child;”,

and

(b) by the insertion of the following definition:

“ ‘foster parent’ means a person other than a relative of a child who is caring for the child on behalf of the Child and Family Agency in accordance with regulations made under the Child Care Act 1991;”.