Commentary First Group of Parts – Discipline Part 4 – Custody Section 102: Further provision about applications under section 101
224.The CO may make an application to a judge advocate for continued custody without charge at any time before the expiry of the first 48 hours after the person’s arrest, or, if it is not practicable to make the application within this time, as soon as practicable and no later than 96 hours after the arrest. However, if an application is made after the initial 48 hour period and it appears to the judge advocate that it would have been reasonable for the CO to make it before the expiry of that period, he must refuse the application.
225.If the CO does make an application for the continued custody of an arrested person after the expiry of the initial 48 hours, his review of, and authorisation for, continued custody under section 100 may be for a period beyond the initial 48 hours, but cannot be for longer than 6 hour blocks up to a maximum period of 96 hours after the arrest.
226.When a CO has applied to a judge advocate for the continued custody without charge of the arrested person and the judge advocate is not satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that this is justified he must either refuse the application or adjourn the hearing of it until a later time, but not more than 48 hours after the person’s arrest (the arrested person may be kept in custody during such an adjournment). If the judge advocate refuses an application for continued custody before the expiry of the initial 48 hour period he has discretion to direct that the arrested person either be charged with a service offence or be released without delay; but if he refuses an application after the initial 48 hour period he must direct that the person either be charged with a service offence or be released without delay.
227.All references to time periods are in relation to the first arrest if the arrested person is subsequently arrested for another offence and held in custody without charge.