4Meaning of *child*

4 Meaning of *child*

(1) In this Act, child means a person who is under 18 years of age*.*

(2) Additionally, in this Act, child includes, in the case of a person who commits an offence or is alleged to have committed an offence, a person who—

(a) was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission or alleged commission of the offence; and

(b) is not excluded by subsection (3).

This includes a young offender within the meaning of the Sentencing Act 1991 who is under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of an offence.

(3) A person is excluded if the person is 19 years of age or over at the time of the commencement of the proceeding for the offence or alleged offence.