Overview of the Act Part 1 – Arrest and Custody Powers to modify Part Section 61 – Further provision about vulnerable persons
164.Section 61 allows the Scottish Ministers to modify, by regulations, the provisions which provide that those aged over 16 and who have a mental disorder are unable to consent to being interviewed without a solicitor being present.
165.Section 61 allows the modification of the description of vulnerable persons in relation to whom support is to be sought, and allows modification of the definition of the type of support to be sought for vulnerable persons as currently set out under section 33. The Scottish Ministers will also be able to specify, for the purposes of section 42, those persons to be considered suitable for providing the support mentioned in section 42, including by reference to training, qualifications and experience.
166.Section 61 also enables the Scottish Ministers to modify those provisions in sections 33 and 42 which provide definitions of certain relevant terms, in particular references to the police and the term “mental disorder”.
167.The effect of Section 61 is to allow the Scottish Ministers to alter the conditions under which sections 33 and 42 apply and the nature of the support referred to in section 42, and to make further provisions about that support.