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Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997
21Power of Secretary to have short-term custody
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### 21 Power of Secretary to have short-term custody
> > (1) The Secretary may retain in his or her custody a child who has been taken to attend a place or person under [section 20](#GS20@EN) or a requirement made under that section if the Secretary considers –
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> > > > (a) that there is a reasonable likelihood that the child is at risk; and
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> > > > (b) that further assessment of the matter is warranted; and
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> > > > (c) that –
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> > > > > > (i) the assessment cannot properly proceed unless the child remains in the Secretary's custody; or
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> > > > > > (ii) it is desirable that the child be protected while the matter is being assessed.
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> > (2) The Secretary's custody of a child under [subsection (1)](#GS21@Gs1@EN) ends 120 hours after the time at which the child arrives at a place or person under [section 20](#GS20@EN) or a requirement made under that section unless, before the end of that period, custody of the child has been granted to the Secretary under an assessment order.