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PART 1ARREST AND CUSTODY

CHAPTER 6POLICE POWERS AND DUTIES

Duties of police

51Duty to consider child’s wellbeing

(1)Subsection (2) applies when a constable is deciding whether to—

(a)arrest a child,

(b)hold a child in police custody,

(c)interview a child about an offence which the constable has reasonable grounds to suspect the child of committing, or

(d)charge a child with committing an offence.

(2)In taking the decision, the constable must treat the need to safeguard and promote the wellbeing of the child as a primary consideration.

(3)For the purposes of this section, a child is a person who is under 18 years of age.