Commentary on Sections Part 1, Chapter 3 – Miscellaneous Provision Section 21: Meaning of ill-treatment etc. in offence provision
This section amends the child cruelty offence in Section 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, making clear that non-physical ill treatment of a child (aged under 16), by someone with parental responsibility for them, is an offence.  It also provides that references to an offence around unnecessary suffering or injury to a child explicitly state that this relates to the suffering or injury being physical or otherwise, again ensuring that non-physical behaviour is captured.