This section provides the police with a power to detain a person who has been removed from a public place at a hospital. The purpose of detaining the individual there is to allow them to be examined by a medical practitioner and interviewed by an approved social worker. The person can only be detained if the constable reasonably believes that the “detention conditions” set out at section 144 are met, and if any of these conditions are no longer met at any time the person then must be discharged. Any period of detention can only last for a maximum of 24 hours beginning with the time of removal.