88.By virtue of subsections (1), (2) and (3), where an application for an adoption order has been made to the court, but the court has not yet made a determination, and where the child’s home during the 5 year period preceding the adoption application has been with the prospective adopters, a child cannot be removed from the home of the prospective adopters unless the prospective adopters agree to the removal; the court grants leave for removal; the child is arrested; or removal is authorised by an enactment. Subsection (4) makes it an offence to remove a child in breach of subsection (2). Such an offence is punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, a fine not exceeding level 5, or both.
Commentary on Sections Chapter 2 .The Adoption Process Section 22 - Restrictions on removal: application for adoption order pending