{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/schedule-2/paragraph-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/schedule-2/paragraph-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1989/41",
  "legislation_title": "Children Act 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989",
  "path": "schedule/2/paragraph/4",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) Every local authority shall take reasonable steps, through the provision of services under Part III of this Act, to prevent children within their area suffering ill-treatment or neglect.\n(2) Where a local authority believe that a child who is at any time within their area—\n(a) is likely to suffer harm; but\n(b) lives or proposes to live in the area of another local authority or in the area of a local authority in Wales\nthey shall inform that other local authority or the local authority in Wales, as the case may be.\n(3) When informing that other local authority or the local authority in Wales they shall specify—\n(a) the harm that they believe he is likely to suffer; and\n(b) (if they can) where the child lives or proposes to live.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2)(b) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 108(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(2) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 108(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 2 para. 4(3) inserted (6.4.2016) by The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/413), regs. 2(1), 108(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 4 wholly in force at 14.10.1991 see s. 108(2)(3) and S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2009/24",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2009"
    },
    {
      "type": "words repealed",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2012/5",
      "affecting_title": "Welfare Reform Act 2012"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/schedule/2/paragraph/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-30T07:28:21.051680+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."
}