Harassment Act 1997, ss 11, 13, 14
A child (someone under 17) can apply for a restraining order with the help of an adult, who acts as their representative. However, the child will still be given the chance to state their views in court and the judge will have to consider those views, taking into account the child’s age and level of maturity.
In some cases, an adult may also need a representative to help them apply for a restraining order. For example, if a welfare guardian has been appointed for someone who isn’t able to make decisions for himself or herself, the welfare guardian will need to apply on the person’s behalf (see “Welfare guardians” in the chapter “Decision making and powers of attorney”). If your application is made by a representative on your behalf, this won’t prevent you being heard during the case.