31Apprehension of defendant under supervision order

### 31 Apprehension of defendant under supervision order > [*\[Section 31 Substituted by No. 72 of 2005, s. 104, Applied:20 Feb 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-02-20/act-2005-072#GS104@EN) > > > (1)  In this section – > > > > > ***prescribed person*** means – > > > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (1) amended by No. 4 of 2023, s. 18, Applied:25 Sep 2023\]*](/view/html/inforce/2023-09-25/act-2023-004#GS18@Hpa@EN) the Chief Psychiatrist; or > > > > > > > > > (b) a person who administers, or assists in the administration of, medical treatment to the defendant under a supervision order; or > > > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (1) amended by No. 4 of 2023, s. 18, Applied:25 Sep 2023\]*](/view/html/inforce/2023-09-25/act-2023-004#GS18@Hpb@EN) a person who is authorised by the Chief Psychiatrist to supervise, wholly or partly, the administration of a supervision order in respect of the defendant; or > > > > > > > > > (d) an authorised person; or > > > > > > > > > (e) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (1) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpa@EN) a mental health officer within the meaning of the [Mental Health Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-002) ; or > > > > > > > > > (f) a police officer. > > > (2)  A prescribed person may apprehend a defendant who is subject to a supervision order if the prescribed person believes on reasonable grounds – > > > > > > (a) that – > > > > > > > > > > (i) the defendant has contravened, or is likely to contravene, the supervision order; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) there has been, or is likely to be, a serious deterioration in the defendant's mental health; and > > > > > > > (b) that, because of the breach or likely breach of the supervision order or the deterioration or likely deterioration in the defendant's mental health, there is a risk that the defendant will harm himself, herself or another person. > > > (3)  As soon as practicable after apprehending a defendant under [subsection (2)](#GS31@Gs2@EN) , the prescribed person is to – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (3) amended by No. 4 of 2023, s. 18, Applied:25 Sep 2023\]*](/view/html/inforce/2023-09-25/act-2023-004#GS18@Hpc@EN) notify the Chief Psychiatrist of the apprehension; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (3) amended by No. 21 of 2016, s. 11, Applied:11 Jul 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-07-11/act-2016-021#GS11@Hpa@EN) take the defendant to – > > > > > > > > > > (i) an approved hospital; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) a secure mental health unit if the prescribed person is of the opinion that the defendant should be taken to a secure mental health unit for treatment or for the protection of the defendant or any other person. > > > (4)  [*\[Section 31 Subsection (4) amended by No. 21 of 2016, s. 11, Applied:11 Jul 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-07-11/act-2016-021#GS11@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (4) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpb@EN) If after apprehending a defendant under [subsection (2)](#GS31@Gs2@EN) the prescribed person is of the opinion that the defendant should be taken to a secure mental health unit but it is not possible or practicable to do so immediately, the prescribed person may take the defendant to an approved hospital where he or she is to be admitted and treated as an involuntary patient, within the meaning of the [Mental Health Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-002) , until such time as he or she can be transferred to a secure mental health unit. > > > (5)  When apprehending a defendant, taking him or her to a secure mental health unit or an approved hospital or transferring him or her to a secure mental health unit under this section, a prescribed person may – > > > > > > (a) be assisted by such persons as he or she considers appropriate; and > > > > > > > (b) use such restraint and force as the prescribed person believes appropriate in the circumstances; and > > > > > > > (c) enter, without warrant, any premises or part of premises in which the prescribed person reasonably believes the defendant is present. > > > (5A)  [*\[Section 31 Subsection (5A) inserted by No. 21 of 2016, s. 11, Applied:11 Jul 2016\]*](/view/html/inforce/2016-07-11/act-2016-021#GS11@Hpc@EN) The custody and escort provisions, within the meaning of the [Mental Health Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-002) , apply in respect of the taking of a defendant to an approved hospital or a secure mental health unit under this section. > > > (6)  A secure mental health unit to which a defendant is taken under [subsection (3)](#GS31@Gs3@EN) is to admit the defendant and may detain the defendant in the unit – > > > > > > (a) for a period not exceeding 24 hours; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (6) amended by No. 4 of 2023, s. 18, Applied:25 Sep 2023\]*](/view/html/inforce/2023-09-25/act-2023-004#GS18@Hpd@EN) if the Chief Psychiatrist authorises it, for one further period not exceeding 72 hours; and > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (6) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpd@EN) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (6) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (6) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 64, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS64@Hpa@EN) if the Tribunal authorises it, for one or more further periods each of a length to be determined by that Tribunal. > > > (7)  [*\[Section 31 Subsection (7) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpg@EN) Despite [subsection (6)](#GS31@Gs6@EN) , if – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (7) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpe@EN) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (7) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 64, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS64@Hpb@EN) within a period referred to in [paragraph (a)](#GS31@Gs6@Hpa@EN) or [(b)](#GS31@Gs6@Hpb@EN) of that subsection an application is made to the Tribunal for an extension of the period for which a defendant may be detained under that subsection; and > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (7) amended by No. 69 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:17 Feb 2014\]*](/view/html/inforce/2014-02-17/act-2013-069#JS1@Ja11@GC11@Hpf@EN) [*\[Section 31 Subsection (7) amended by No. 18 of 2021, s. 64, Applied:05 Nov 2021\]*](/view/html/inforce/2021-11-05/act-2021-018#GS64@Hpc@EN) a member of the Tribunal authorises it – > > > > the defendant may be detained in the secure mental health unit until the application is determined by that Tribunal. > > > (8)  Despite [subsection (6)](#GS31@Gs6@EN) , if within any period for which a defendant may be detained under that subsection an application is made to the Supreme Court under [section 30](#GS30@EN) to vary or revoke the supervision order in respect of the defendant, the defendant may be detained in a secure mental health unit until the Court has determined the application. > > > (9)  While a defendant is being detained in an approved hospital or secure mental health unit under this section, the supervision order is suspended.