{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childrens-hearings-scotland-act-2011/section-31",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childrens-hearings-scotland-act-2011/section-31.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2011/1",
  "legislation_title": "Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childrens-hearings-scotland-act-2011",
  "path": "section/31",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "31",
  "heading": "Sheriff: duty to consider appointing safeguarder",
  "text": "(1) This section applies where—\n(a) proceedings are being taken before the sheriff under Part 10 or 15 in relation to a child, and\n(b) a safeguarder has not been appointed for the child in relation to proceedings under those Parts.\n(2) The sheriff must consider whether to appoint a safeguarder for the child.\n(3) The sheriff may appoint a safeguarder for the child.\n(4) A safeguarder appointed under this section is to be treated for the purposes of this Act (other than this section and section 33) as having been appointed by a children's hearing by virtue of section 30.\n(5) An appointment under subsection (3) must be recorded.\n(6) If the sheriff appoints a safeguarder, the sheriff must give reasons for the decision.",
  "extent": "S",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 31(4) inserted (24.6.2013) by The Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Modification of Primary Legislation) Order 2013 (S.S.I. 2013/211), art. 1, Sch. 1 para. 20(6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 31 in force at 24.6.2013 by S.S.I. 2013/195, arts. 2, 3"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/1/section/31",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:15:14.891873+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."
}