(1) If the chief executive becomes aware (whether because of notification
given to the chief executive or otherwise) of alleged harm or alleged risk of
harm to a child and reasonably suspects the child is in need of protection,
the chief executive must immediately—
(a) have an authorised officer
investigate the allegation, assess whether the alleged harm or risk of harm
can be substantiated and, if it can, assess the child’s protective needs; or
(b) take other action the chief executive considers appropriate.
(2) If the
chief executive reasonably believes alleged harm to a child may involve the
commission of a criminal offence relating to the child, the chief executive
must immediately give details of the alleged harm to the police commissioner.
(3) Subsection (2) applies whether or not the chief executive suspects the
child is in need of protection.
