PART 2LACK OF CAPACITY: PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY, AND SAFEGUARDS

CHAPTER 4ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARD: AUTHORISATIONS ETC

Deprivation of liberty

I125Section 24: definitions

1

This section applies for the purposes of section 24.

2

Related detention” means—

a

the detention of P in circumstances amounting to a deprivation of liberty while P is being taken to a place in which care or treatment is available for P; or

b

the detention of P in circumstances amounting to a deprivation of liberty in pursuance of a condition imposed on P that relates to permission given to P to be absent from a relevant place (as defined by section 27).

3

Detention is “authorised” if, at the time the act is done, there is in force an authorisation granted—

a

by a panel under Schedule 1, or

b

by the making of a report under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 (authorisation of short-term detention for examination etc),

which authorises that detention.

4

See paragraph 22 of Schedule 1 or paragraph 18 of Schedule 2 (as the case may be) for provisions about the scope of an authorisation.

5

The prevention of serious harm condition is that at the time the act is done D reasonably believes—

a

that failure to detain P in circumstances amounting to a deprivation of liberty would create a risk of serious harm to P or of serious physical harm to other persons; and

b

that the detention in question is a proportionate response to—

i

the likelihood of harm to P, or of physical harm to other persons; and

ii

the seriousness of the harm concerned.

6

References in this section to “the act” are to the act mentioned in section 24(1).