Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

1.  Where an officer, being a social worker, of[F1 the responsible authority]N.I.

(a)has reason to believe that, in the interests of any such person as is mentioned in Article 37F1. . . , or for preventing injury to the health of, or serious nuisance to, other persons, it is necessary to remove such person from the premises in which he is residing;

(b)consults with—

(i)the medical practitioner (if any) providing[F2 primary medical services] for such person under Part VI; and

(ii)a medical officer of the[F1 responsible authority designated by that authority] in that behalf; and

(c)after such consultation, obtains from such medical officer a certificate to the effect that such removal is necessary;

that officer shall certify accordingly in writing to the [F3responsible authority and that authority may thereupon, after serving on the nearest known relative (if any) in Northern Ireland of such person three clear days' notice of its intention to do so, [F4apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for an order under paragraph 2] .]