Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of, Children Act 1889

4 Taking of offender into custody, and protection of child.

(1) Any constable may take into custody without warrant any person who within view of such constable commits an offence under this Act, where the name and residence of such person are unknown to such constable and cannot be ascertained by such constable ; and any constable may take to a place of safety any child in respect of whom an offence under section one or subsection (a) of section three of this Act has been committed, and the child may there be detained until it can be brought before a court of summary jurisdiction, and such court may cause the child to be dealt with as circumstances may admit and require until the charge made against any person in respect of the said offence has been determined by the committal for trial, or conviction, or discharge of such person.

(2) Where a constable arrests any person without warrant in pursuance of this section the inspector or constable in charge of the station to which such person is conveyed shall, unless in his belief the release of such person on bail would tend to defeat the ends of justice, or to cause injury or danger to the child against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed, release the person arrested on his entering into such a recognisance, with or" without sureties, as may in his judgment be required to secure the attendance of such person upon the hearing of the charge.