http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/section/86Mental Health Act 1983An Act to consolidate the law relating to mentally disordered persons.1983-05-09texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-09Expert Participation2026-04-06 Part VI Removal and Return of Patients Within United Kingdom, <Abbreviation Expansion="et cetera" xml:lang="la">etc.</Abbreviation> Removal of aliens Removal of alien patients.861This section applies to any patient who is neither a British citizen nor a Commonwealth citizen having the right of abode in the United Kingdom by virtue of section 2(1)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971, being a patient who is receiving treatment for mental disorder as an in-patient in a hospital in England and Wales or a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 and is detained pursuant to—aan application for admission for treatment or a report under Article 12(1) or 13 of that Order;ba hospital order under section 37 above or Article 44 of that Order; orcan order or direction under this Act (other than under section 35, 36 or 38 above) or under that Order (other than under Article 42, 43 or 45 of that Order) .2If it appears to the Secretary of State that proper arrangements have been made for the removal of a patient to whom this section applies to a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands and for his care or treatment there and that it is in the interests of the patient to remove him, the Secretary of State may, subject to subsection (3) below—aby warrant authorise the removal of the patient from the place where he is receiving treatment as mentioned in subsection (1) above, andbgive such directions as the Secretary of State thinks fit for the conveyance of the patient to his destination in that country or territory and for his detention in any place or on board any ship or aircraft until his arrival at any specified port or place in any such country or territory.3The Secretary of State shall not exercise his powers under subsection (2) above in the case of any patient except with the approval of the appropriate tribunal or, as the case may be, of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Northern Ireland.4In relation to a patient receiving treatment in a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, the reference in subsection (1) above to mental disorder shall be construed in accordance with that Order and any reference in subsection (2) or (3) to the Secretary of State shall be construed as a reference to the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.S. 86: certain functions transferred (10.7.2008) by The Welsh Ministers (Transfer of Functions) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1786), art. {2(a)}1971 c. 77. (62) Words in s. 86(1) substituted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 1, 56, Sch. 1 para. 15(2) (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(a) (with art. 3, Sch.)1986/595 (N.I.4). Words substituted by S.I. 1986/596, art. 2(14)Words in s. 86(3) substituted (3.11.2008) by The Transfer of Tribunal Functions Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/2833), art. 6, Sch. 3 para. 62S. 86(4) inserted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 1, 56, Sch. 1 para. 15(3) (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(a), (with art. 3, Sch.)Words in s. 86(4) inserted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 14 para. 28(4) (with arts. 28-31)