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.