CHILD PROTECTION STATEMENT AS ISSUED BY THE B.C.F.A
CHILD PROTECTION STATEMENT AS ISSUED BY THE B.C.F.A.
(1) ANY ACT, STATEMENT, CONDUCT OR OTHER MATTER WHICH HARMS A CHILD OR CHILDREN, OR POSES OR MAY POSE A RISK OF HARM TO A CHILD OR CHILDREN, SHALL CONSTITUTE BEHAVIOR WHICH IS IMPROPER AND BRINGS THE GAME INTO DISREPUTE.
(2) IN THESE REGULATIONS THE EXPRESSION “ OFFENCE “ SHALL MEAN ANY ONE OR MORE OF THE OFFENCES CONTAINED IN SCHEDULE 1 TO THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS ACT OF 1933 AND ANY OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENCE POSES OR MAY POSE A RISK OF HARM TO A CHILD OR CHILDREN.
(3) UPON RECEIPT BY THE ASSOCIATION OF:
3.1NOTIFICATION THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH AN OFFENCE; OR
3.2NOTIFICATION THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE, SOCIAL SERVICES OR ANY OTHER AUTHORITY RELATING TO AN
OFFENCE; OR
3.3ANY OTHER INFORMATION WHICH CAUSES THE ASSOCIATION REASONABLY TO BELIEVE THAT A PERSON POSES OR MAY POSE A RISK OF HARM TO A CHILD OR CHILDREN THEN THE ASSOCIATION SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER THAT THE INDIVIDUAL BE SUSPENDED FROM ALL OR ANY ANY SPECIFIC FOOTBALL ACTIVITY FOR SUCH PERIOD AND ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS IT THINKS FIT.
(4) IN REACHING ITS DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER AN ORDER UNDER REGULATION 3 SHOULD BE MADE THE ASSOCIATION SHALL GIVE CONSIDERATION, TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:
4.1WHETHER A CHILD IS OR CHILDREN ARE OR MAY BE AT RISK OF HARM;
4.2WHETHER THE MATTERS ARE OF A SERIOUS NATURE;
4.3WHETHER AN ORDER IS NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO ALLOW THE CONDUCT OF ANY INVESTIGATION BY THE ASSOCIATION OR ANY OTHER AUTHORITY OR BODY TO PROCEED UNIMPEDED.
(5) THE PERIOD OF AN ORDER REFERRED TO IN 3 ABOVE SHALL NOT BE CAPABLE OF LASTING BEYOND THE DATE UPON WHICH ANY CHARGE UNDER THE RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION OR ANY OFFENCE IS DECIDED OR BROUGHT TO AN END.
(6) WHERE AN ORDER IS IMPOSED ON AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER REGULATION 3 ABOVE, THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BRING AND CONCLUDE ANY PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION AGAINST THE PERSON RELATING TO THE MATTERS AS SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE.
(7) WHERE A PERSON IS CONVICTED, OR IS MADE THE SUBJECT OF A CAUTION IN RESPECT OF AN OFFENCE, THAT SHALL CONSTITUTE A BREACH OF THE RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION AND THE ASSOCIATION SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ORDER THE SUSPENSION OF THE PERSON FROM ALL OR ANY SPECIFIC FOOTBALL ACTIVITY FOR SUCH A PERIOD (INCLUDING INDEFINITELY) AND ON SUCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS IT THINKS FIT.
(8) FOR THE PURPOSE OF THESE REGULATIONS, THE ASSOCIATION SHALL ACT THROUGH ITS COUNCIL OR ANY COMMITTEE OR SUB-COMMITTEE THEREOF, INCLUDING THE BOARD.
(9) NOTIFICATION IN WRITING OF AN ORDER REFERRED TO ABOVE SHALL BE GIVEN TO THE PERSON CONCERNED AND/OR ANY CLUB WITH WHICH HE/SHE IS ASSOCIATED AS SOON AS REASONABLY PRACTICABLE.
