The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986

Mentally disordered persons found in public placesN.I.

130.—(1) If a constable finds in a place to which the public have access a person who appears to him to be suffering from mental disorder and to be in immediate need of care or control, the constable may, if he thinks it necessary to do so in the interests of that person or for the protection of other persons, remove that person to a place of safety within the meaning of Article 129.

(2) A person removed to a place of safety under this Article may be detained there for a period not exceeding 48 hours for the purpose of enabling him to be examined by a medical practitioner and to be interviewed by an approved social worker and of making any necessary arrangements for his care or treatment.

(3) Where a person is removed as aforesaid, it shall, where practicable, be the duty of the constable who has so removed him without delay to inform some responsible person residing with that person and the nearest relative of that person of that removal.