25. Court may determine and declare age of child or young person

Where, in any proceedings under this Act, a person is alleged to be a child or young person, the court may, after making such inquiry as it thinks fit as to the age of that person, determine and declare his or her age.

For the purposes of this Act, the age declared by the court under subsection (1) is deemed to be the true age of that person, unless the contrary is proved, in the same or any subsequent proceedings brought in relation to that person.

Where a person is charged with an offence under this Act in respect of a person apparently under a specified age, it is a defence to prove that the person was actually of, or above, that age.[21