# Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011, Section 31: Sheriff: duty to consider appointing safeguarder

Extent: S

(1) This section applies where—
(a) proceedings are being taken before the sheriff under Part 10 or 15 in relation to a child, and
(b) a safeguarder has not been appointed for the child in relation to proceedings under those Parts.
(2) The sheriff must consider whether to appoint a safeguarder for the child.
(3) The sheriff may appoint a safeguarder for the child.
(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.
(5) An appointment under subsection (3) must be recorded.
(6) If the sheriff appoints a safeguarder, the sheriff must give reasons for the decision.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2011/1/section/31 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/childrens-hearings-scotland-act-2011/section-31
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.