PART 9POWER OF POLICE TO REMOVE PERSON TO PLACE OF SAFETY

Powers of police to detain person removed from public place

143Power to detain in police station a person removed from a public place

1

This section applies where a person is taken to a police station under section 139.

2

If a custody officer reasonably believes that the detention conditions are met (see section 144), the person may be detained under this section in the police station—

a

for the purpose of enabling the person to be examined by a medical practitioner and interviewed by an approved social worker;

b

for the purpose of preventing physical or psychological harm to that person or other persons while any necessary arrangements are made for the person’s care or treatment elsewhere.

3

If at any time while the person is detained under this section it appears to a custody officer that the detention conditions are no longer met, the person must immediately be discharged from detention under this section.

4

Subsection (3) does not apply if the transfer conditions in section 145 are met and the person is taken to another place of safety under that section.

5

See also section 146 (maximum period of detention under this Part).