Non-Fatal Offences against
Person Act, 1997.
S.16
- (a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
- (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both.
(5) Any proceedings under this section shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Abduction of child by other persons. 17.—(1) A person, other than a person to whom section 16 applies, shall be guilty of an offence who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, intentionally takes or detains a child under the age of 16 years or causes a child under that age to be so taken or detained—
- (a) so as to remove the child from the lawful control of any person having lawful control of the child; or
- (b) so as to keep him or her out of the lawful control of any person entitled to lawful control of the child.
(2) It shall be a defence to a charge under this section that the defendant believed that the child had attained the age of 16 years.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
- (a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
- (b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years or to both.
Justifiable use of force; protection of person or property, prevention of crime, etc. 18.—(1) The use of force by a person for any of the following purposes, if only such as is reasonable in the circumstances as he or she believes them to be, does not constitute an offence—
- (a) to protect himself or herself or a member of the family of that person or another from injury, assault or detention caused by a criminal act; or
- (b) to protect himself or herself or (with the authority of that other) another from trespass to the person; or
- (c) to protect his or her property from appropriation, destruction or damage caused by a criminal act or from trespass or infringement; or
- (d) to protect property belonging to another from appropriation, destruction or damage caused by a criminal act or (with the authority of that other) from trespass or infringement; or
- (e) to prevent crime or a breach of the peace.
(2) “use of force” in subsection (1) is defined and extended by section 20.
