{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-northern-ireland-2022/section-98",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-northern-ireland-2022/section-98.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2022/18",
  "legislation_title": "Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/adoption-and-children-act-northern-ireland-2022",
  "path": "section/98",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "98",
  "heading": "Restriction on reports",
  "text": "(1) A person who is not within a prescribed description may not, in any prescribed circumstances, prepare a report for any person about the suitability of a child for adoption or of a person to adopt a child or about the adoption, or placement for adoption, of a child.\n(2) If a person (“P”)—\n(a) contravenes subsection (1); or\n(b) causes a person to prepare a report, or submits to any person a report which has been prepared, in contravention of that subsection,\nP is guilty of an offence.\n(3) If a person who works for an appropriate voluntary organisation—\n(a) contravenes subsection (1); or\n(b) causes a person to prepare a report, or submits to any person a report which has been prepared, in contravention of that subsection,\nthe person who manages the appropriate voluntary organisation is also guilty of the offence.\n(4) A person (“P”) is not guilty of an offence under subsection (2)(b) unless it is proved that P knew or had reason to suspect that the report would be, or had been, prepared in contravention of subsection (1); but this subsection only applies if sufficient evidence is adduced to raise an issue as to whether P had the knowledge or reason mentioned.\n(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": "prospective",
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 98 not in operation at Royal Assent, see s. 160(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2022/18/section/98",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:19:21.400523+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}