Section 111 - Power to search for child detained for immoral purpose

(1) Where it appears to the Chairman of a Regional Tribunal or a Justice that there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is detained for immoral purposes by another person in a place within the jurisdiction, the Chairman or Justice may issue a warrant in accordance with subsections (3) and (4).

(2) The Chairman of the Tribunal or the Justice shall act on information supplied on oath by a parent, guardian, or relative of the child or may act on the information of any other person who the Chairman or Justice considers is acting in good faith in the best interests of the child.

(3) The warrant shall authorise the person named in it to search for and when found to take and detain the child in a place of safety until the child can be brought the before the Chairman of the Tribunal or the Justice or any other Tribunal or Justice.

(4) The Chairman of the Tribunal or the Justice before whom the child is brought may order that the child be taken to the parents or guardian or be otherwise dealt with as circumstances permit or require.

(5) The Chairman of the Tribunal or the Justice may, by the same warrant or another warrant, cause a person accused of unlawfully detaining a child to be arrested and brought before the Tribunal or Court or any other Tribunal or Court for legal proceedings and punishment.

(6) A child is detained for immoral purposes if the child is detained to be carnally known or unnaturally carnally known by a particular person or generally and

(a) is under sixteen years of age, or

(b) if not less than sixteen years and under twenty-one years of age, is detained against the will, or the will of the father, mother or any other person who has lawful care or charge of the child.

(7) A person authorised by a warrant under this section to search for a detained child may enter if necessary by force a house, building or any other place mentioned in the warrant and may remove the child.

(8) A warrant issued under this section shall be addressed to and executed by a superior police officer who shall be accompanied by the parent, guardian or relative of the child unless the Chairman of the Tribunal or the Justice otherwise directs.

(9) Where the warrant is issued on the basis of information given by a person acting in good faith in the best interests of the child, that person may accompany the superior police officer to execute the warrant.