Detention and custody

Detention and custody

As far as practicable, an appropriate adult will also be arranged if it is considered necessary to conduct a custody search on the mentally incapacitated person. As with conducting interviews, however, if the custody search needs to be conducted urgently due to risk of harm to the mentally incapacitated person or other relevant persons and an appropriate adult cannot be contacted within a reasonable timeframe, the custody search may have to proceed in the absence of an appropriate adult.

While in detention, if a mentally incapacitated person is in need of medical attention (and a request is made by the mentally incapacitated person or their appropriate adult, or if the duty officer considers it necessary), the duty officer shall send them to the nearest government hospital or clinic and inform the doctor of their medical history, medication or symptoms. In relation to taking medicine while in detention, the Police are only obliged to allow the mentally incapacitated person to take medicines approved by a government doctor according to the prescribed dosage and frequency.