{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/schedule-2/paragraph-7",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989/schedule-2/paragraph-7.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1989/41",
  "legislation_title": "Children Act 1989",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-1989",
  "path": "schedule/2/paragraph/7",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "7",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "Every local authority shall take reasonable steps designed—\n(a) to reduce the need to bring—\n(i) proceedings for care or supervision orders with respect to children within their area;\n(ii) criminal proceedings against such children;\n(iii) any family or other proceedings with respect to such children which might lead to them being placed in the authority’s care; or\n(iv) proceedings under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court with respect to children;\n(b) to encourage children within their area not to commit criminal offences; and\n(c) to avoid the need for children within their area to be placed in secure accommodation within the meaning given in section 25 and in section 119 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Sch. 2 para. 7(c) 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), 110"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 7 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      "type": "words repealed",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      "type": "words repealed",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/7",
    "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."
}