Vulnerable Adults Act 2018 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Places of Temporary Care and Protection, Places of Safety, Fit Persons and Review Board
21. Unlawful removal, etc., of vulnerable adult from place of temporary care and protection or place of safety, etc.
Feedback & supportA person who —
without lawful authority, removes a vulnerable adult from a place of temporary care and protection or place of safety to which, or the custody of the fit person to whose care, the vulnerable adult has been committed under this Act;
vulnerable adult
“vulnerable adult” means an individual who —(a)is 18 years of age or older; and(b)is, by reason of mental or physical infirmity, disability or incapacity, incapable of protecting himself or herself from abuse, neglect or self‑neglect;
knowingly assists or induces, directly or indirectly, a vulnerable adult to leave or be removed from a place of temporary care and protection or place of safety to which, or the fit person to whose care, the vulnerable adult has been committed under this Act;
place of temporary care and protection
“place of temporary care and protection” means any premises designated under section 19 to be a place of temporary care and protection;
knowingly —
harbours or conceals a vulnerable adult who has escaped from a place of temporary care and protection or place of safety to which, or the fit person to whose care, the vulnerable adult has been committed under this Act;
place of safety
“place of safety” means any premises designated under section 19 to be a place of safety;
prevents the vulnerable adult from returning to a place of temporary care and protection or place of safety to which, or the fit person to whose care, the vulnerable adult has been committed under this Act; or
fit person
“fit person” means an individual whom or organisation which the court or the Director‑General thinks is competent to provide care and protection to a vulnerable adult;
assists any other person in doing any of the acts mentioned in sub‑paragraphs (i) and (ii); or
obstructs the removal from, or committal of a vulnerable adult to, a place of temporary care and protection, place of safety or the care of a fit person carried out under this Act,shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.