Bring person to a Place of Safety

The Order states that a place of safety, in this instance, may be a "hospital of which the managing Board or HSC Trust is willing temporarily to receive persons who may be taken there under this Order, any police station or any other suitable place the occupier is willing temporarily to receive such persons".

The Guide contains a list of hospitals that could be used as a place of safety. However this list is now out of date and local guidance in relation to which hospitals can now be used to fulfil this function should be sought from each Health and Social Care Trust. A GP surgery or health and social care premises could potentially be used as a Place of Safety. The most appropriate and available place of safety should be carefully considered by the police officer/s involved and should take account of any risks to the person and to others.

The officer should ensure that the person's GP or another medical practitioner and an ASW are contacted immediately so that the person is detained no longer than is necessary in the place of safety. The person must be medically examined by the GP/medical practitioner and interviewed by the ASW to allow for any necessary arrangements for his care and treatment to be made.
The person may only be detained in a place of safety for a maximum of 48 hours.

A police station should only be used as a place of safety in exceptional circumstances and for the minimum length of time necessary. In those circumstances where the person has been brought to a police station, the officer may wish to discuss that person's immediate care with an appropriate healthcare professional. LINK TO ROLE OF PSNI

Article 129 provides that the PSNI may, by virtue of warrant, remove a mentally disordered person from private premises and to convey that person to a Place of Safety under Article 129 (1) of the Order.