(1)A protection order shall specify the period for which it is to have effect, being—
(a)in a case where the order is made by an officer other than a superior officer, a period not exceeding the period of eight days beginning with the date of the order; and
(b)in a case where the order is made by a superior officer, a period not exceeding the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the order.
(2)Where a protection order has been made with respect to a child and it appears at any time to the officer having jurisdiction—
(a)that the period for which the order is to have effect is less than the maximum period applicable under subsection (1) above in relation to a protection order made by that officer; and
(b)that there is reasonable cause to believe that the child concerned is likely to suffer significant harm if the effect of the order is not extended or further extended,
that officer may by an order (in this Part of this Act referred to as an “extension order”) continue the effect of the protection order until a time no later after the making of the protection order than the end of that maximum period.
(3)No extension order shall be made without affording—
(a)the child to whom the protection order relates,
(b)his parents,
(c)any other person who has parental responsibility for him, and
(d)any other person with whom he was residing immediately before the making of the application for the protection order,
an opportunity to make representations to the officer by whom the case is being considered, except where it appears to that officer that it would be undesirable to do so in the interests of the child or that it would be impracticable, or would cause unnecessary delay, to communicate with any parent of the child or with any such other person as is mentioned in paragraph (c) or paragraph (d) above.
(4)Where a child is removed under a protection order to accommodation in the United Kingdom—
(a)the order shall not authorise his being kept in that accommodation after the end of the period of twenty-four hours beginning with his arrival in that accommodation; but
(b)the powers conferred by the [1989 c. 41.] Children Act 1989, the [1968 c. 49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and the [1968 c. 34 (N.I.).] Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 shall be exercisable with respect to the child as if everything which was relevant to the question of whether a protection order should be made were relevant, notwithstanding that the child has been removed under the order, to the question whether the conditions for the exercise of any of those powers are satisfied.
(5)Without prejudice to the power to vary or revoke any direction previously given under subsection (4) of section 20 above, an officer making an extension order may exercise the power to give such directions and subsection (11) of that section shall have effect accordingly.