Commentary on Sections Part 10 – Criminal Justice Chapter 2 – Powers of Court on Conviction Section 178 - Effect of interim detention orders
Where the court makes an interim detention order, this section places a duty on a constable or persons directed by the court to take the person subject to hospital. It also provides that the managing authority of a hospital must admit and detain the person.
This section also provides that any question of whether treatment should be given to a person detained under an interim detention order is to be determined in the same way as it would be for a person who is not so detained. It also provides that a court can make an interim detention order for an initial period of up to 12 weeks and that the court may also renew the order for a maximum of 28 days at a time if this is justified on the basis of medical advice. The section also sets a maximum total period for detention under the interim detention order of 6 months.
The section also provides that a court must terminate an interim detention order if it makes a public protection order, or a custodial sentence with or without a hospital direction, or another disposal in respect of the person. It further provides for the arresting without warrant and bringing before the court of an offender who absconds from hospital while subject to an interim detention order.