(1)On an application being made to a sheriff or justice alleging that any person is—
(a)an offender unlawfully at large from a prison or other institution to which the Prison Act applies in which he is required to be detained after being convicted of an offence ; or
(b)a convicted mental patient liable to be retaken under section 40 or 140 of the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959, section 36 or 106 of the [1960 c. 61.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 or section 30 or 108 of the [1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 (retaking of mental patients who are absent without leave or have escaped from custody);
the sheriff or justice may issue a warrant to arrest him and bring him before any sheriff.
(2)Where a person is brought before a sheriff in pursuance of a warrant for his arrest under this section, the sheriff shall, if satisfied that he is the person named in the warrant and' if satisfied as to the facts mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the foregoing subsection, order him to be returned to the prison or other institution where he is required or liable to be detained or, in the case of a convicted mental patient, order him to be kept in custody or detained in a place of safety pending his admission to hospital.
(3)Section 139 of the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959, section 105 of the [1960 c. 61.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 and section 107 of the [1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 (custody, conveyance and detention of certain mental patients) shall apply to a convicted mental patient required by this section to be conveyed to any place or to be kept in custody or detained in a place of safety as they apply to a person required by or by virtue of the said Act of 1959, 1960 or 1961, as the case may be, to be so conveyed, kept or detained.
(4)In this section—
" convicted mental patient " means a person liable after being convicted of an offence to be detained under Part V of the Mental Health Act 1959, Part V of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960, Part III of the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 or section 330, 376, 378 or 379 of this Act in pursuance of a hospital order or transfer direction together with an order or direction restricting his discharge;
" place of safety " has the same meaning as in Part V of the said Act of 1959, or Part III of the said Act of 1961, or section 462 of this Act as the case may be;
" Prison Act " means the [1952 c. 52.] Prison Act 1952, the [1952 c. 61.] Prisons (Scotland) Act 1952 or the [1953 c. 18 (N.I.).] Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953, as the case may be.