Commentary on Sections Part 9 – Power of Police to Remove Person to Place of Safety Section 151 - Review of detention
This section provides that the detention of any person at a place of safety must be periodically reviewed to determine whether or not the detention conditions are met. The first review must be no later than six hours after the person arrives at the place of safety, and subsequent reviews should be at six hourly intervals. A review may be postponed if it is not practicable to complete one or if the appropriate officer is not available, but a review must be completed as soon as practicable after any delay. If there is any delay in conducting a review, that delay does not alter the requirement for a review at six hour intervals, beginning at the time of arrival.
Decisions to detain a person following review, or to postpone a review, must be recorded in writing. This should be done as soon as practicable after any such decision in the presence of the person. If the person is incapable of understanding what is being said, asleep, acting in a violent manner or is in urgent need of medical attention, then they do not have to be present when the written record is made.
References to periods of time in this section are to be treated as approximate only.