We are removing prison and police cells as "places of safety" under the 1983 Act. This is in response to evidence that suggests these settings are not suitable environments for individuals with a severe mental health, in crisis, awaiting assessment and treatment. Alternatives, such as hospitals and other healthcare-based settings, are more appropriate.
	Before admission to hospital under Part 3 of the 1983 Act in certain circumstances, a court can order an individual to be detained for a short period of time in a ‘place of safety’ which currently includes police stations and prisons. This interim provision is used when a bed is not available in a hospital immediately. For civil patients under Part 2, interim detention in a police station as a place of safety is permitted when the police are exercising their powers under sections 135 and 136 of the 1983 Act.
	Section 48 removes police stations and prisons for Part 3 patients, and police stations for persons to whom section 135 and 136 apply, as a place of safety.
	Section 48 subsection (2) removes prisons, and remand centres (which are defunct) from the definition of a place of safety for Part 3 patients. Section 48 subsection (4)(a) removes police stations from the definition of place of safety in section 135(6) of the 1983 Act for the purpose of sections 135 and 136.
	Section 48 subsection (3) clarifies that these changes do not apply, in respect of Part 3 patients, to those already detained in a police station or prison when the changes commence.
	Section 48 subsection (6) omits section 136A, which relates to the use of police stations as a place of safety.
Miscellaneous Section 48: Removal of police stations and prisons as places of safety