A magistrates' court has the same power to make a hospital order or guardianship order under section 37 of the M1Mental Health Act 1983 or an interim hospital order under section 38 of that Act in the case of a person suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment who could otherwise be committed to custody for breach of a relevant requirement as a magistrates' court has under those sections in the case of a person convicted of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment.

In subsection (1)“a relevant requirement” has the meaning given by section 50(2).