Public Order Act · 2021 Revised Edition · Part 2
18. Power to detain suspected persons
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
If in any special area, any person upon being questioned by a police officer not below the rank of Sergeant. fails to satisfy the police officer as to his identity or as to the purposes for which he is in the place where he is found, and if the police officer suspects that such person has acted or is about to act in any manner prejudicial to the public safety or the maintenance of public order, the police officer may arrest such person and detain him pending enquiries.
No person shall be detained under this section for a period exceeding 24 hours except with the authority of the Officer Commanding
Police District concerned and, save as provided in subsection (3), such officer may only authorise the detention of a person under this section for a period not exceeding 48 hours in all.
If the Officer Commanding Police District concerned is satisfied that the necessary enquiries cannot be completed within the period of 48 hours prescribed by subsection (2), he may authorise the further detention of any person detained under this section for an additional period not exceeding 14 days but shall, on giving such authorisation forthwith report the circumstances to the Commissioner of Police.
Officer Commanding Police District
"Officer Commanding Police District" means the officer appointed to perform the duties of that ofice and when such officer is unable through absence, illness or otherwise to perform his duties, means the police officer present and acting in the Police District who is next in rank below such officer appointed as aforesaid;
Any person detained under this section is deemed to be in lawful custody and may be detained in any prison, or in any police station or in any other similar place authorised generally or specially by the Minister.
Terms defined in s 2
Officer Commanding Police District
Defined · s 2"Officer Commanding Police District" means the officer appointed to perform the duties of that ofice and when such officer is unable through absence, illness or otherwise to perform his duties, means the police officer present and acting in the Police District who is next in rank below such officer appointed as aforesaid;