253.—(1) Where a person is charged with committing any offence under this Part, or any offence mentioned in Schedule 1, in respect of two or more children, the same information or summons may charge the offence in respect of all or any of them, but the person charged shall not, if he or she is summarily convicted, be liable to a separate penalty in respect of each child except upon separate informations.

(2) The same information or summons may charge such a person—

(a) with the offences of assault, ill-treatment, neglect, abandonment or exposure together or separately, or

(b) with committing all or any of those offences in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child’s health or seriously to affect his or her wellbeing, alternatively or together,

but when those offences are charged together the person charged shall not, if he or she is summarily convicted, be liable to a separate penalty for each.

(3) Where an offence under this Part or any offence mentioned in Schedule 1 charged against any person is a continuing offence, it shall not be necessary to specify in the information, summons or indictment the date of the acts or omissions constituting the offence.