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61
THE FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
for the
Year ending 31st December, 1933,
on
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The arrangements made by the Council for discharging the functions of the Local Authority
under Part I. of the Children Act, 1908, were dealt with in the 1930 Annual Health Report. The
Health Visitors have been appointed Infant Protection Visitors. The Council fix the number
of children to be kept by each foster mother. They consider cases where there appears to be any
contravention of the Children & Young Persons Acts, 1908-1932, or where the foster mother or
foster home appears unsuitable. They draw the attention of the public to the requirements of the
Act from time to time by means of posters, handbills, and advertisements in the local press and
arrange for the advertisements in the local press to be scrutinized for anyone enquiring for or offering
homes for children for reward or adoption. A report on Infant Life Protection appeared as
Appendix G in 1931.
The provisions of the Children & Young Persons Act, 1932, relating to Infant life protection
came into operation on January 1st, 1933. These provisions amend Part 1 of the Children Act,
1908. The principal amendments are:—
(1) Extension of age of notifiable children.—Age raised from 7 to 9 years.
(2) Period of notification.—Notification of reception of a child must now be given instead
of within 48 hours after reception not less than 7 days before its reception in the case of a first
child and not less than 48 hours before its reception in the case of any other child.
There are certain exceptions in case of emergency and children already in foster mother's care.
Notification of change of residence must be given at least 7 days prior to the change—in
emergency within 48 hours after.
Notification of death or transference of a child must be given within 24 hours instead of
within 48 hours.
(3) Additional notification.—Notification of death or transference of a child must be given not
only to the local authority but also to the person from whom the child was received.
(4) Manner of notification.—Subject to certain alterations this is set out on similar lines to
previously.
(5) Definition of " reward."—An undertaking is to be an undertaking for reward if there is
any payment or gift of money or money's worth, or any promise to pay or give money or money's
worth, irrespective of whether there is any intention of making a profit.
(6) Time limit for prosecutions and failure to notify.—Failure to notify is made a continuing
offence to facilitate bringing cases before courts of summary jurisdiction within the 6 months limit.
(7) Women infant protection visitors.—At least one of the infant protection visitors for each
authority must be a woman. It is assumed that in most cases the health visitors of the authority
have already been appointed to these posts.
(8) Scope of visits.—The scrutiny, advice and direction of the visitor should extend not only
to the nursing but also to the general health and well-being of the child.
(9) Prevention of overcrowding.—In addition to limiting the number of foster children in a
home the Local Authority may now impose conditions to be complied with so long as the total
number of children kept in the dwelling exceeds a specified number.
(10) Unsuitability of premises, foster-parents or environment.—The powers of the authority
to secure the removal of children kept on unsuitable premises or by unsuitable persons are extended
to prevent their reception in such premises or by such persons.