Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003

Entry to premises

292 Warrant to enter premises for purposes of taking patient

(1) If a sheriff or a justice of the peace is satisfied by an authorised person’s evidence on oath as to the matters mentioned in subsection (2) below, the sheriff or, as the case may be, justice of the peace may grant a warrant under this subsection.

(2) Those matters are—

(a) that for the purposes for which the authorised person is authorised it is necessary to enter premises; and

(b) that the authorised person—

(i) is unable to obtain entry to those premises; or

(ii) reasonably apprehends that the authorised person will be unable to obtain entry to those premises.

(3) A warrant under subsection (1) above is a warrant—

(a) authorising—

(i) the authorised person;

(ii) any mental health officer appointed by the local authority for the area in which the premises are situated; and

(iii) any constable of the police force maintained for the area in which the premises are situated,

to enter the premises specified in the warrant; and

(b) authorising any constable of the police force for the area in which the premises are situated, for the purpose of exercising the power mentioned in paragraph (a) above, to open lockfast places on premises so specified.

(4) In the execution of a warrant granted under subsection (1) above, the persons authorised for the purpose of subsection (3)(a) above may be accompanied by—

(a) a medical practitioner;

(b) any other authorised person.

(5) In this section, references to an authorised person are to a person who, in relation to a patient, is authorised by virtue of this Act—

(a) to take the patient to any place; or

(b) to take (or retake) into custody the patient where the patient is liable to be taken (or retaken).