Section 7

A protector, the Commissioner or a police officer, or any person authorised by a Magistrate or by a protector or by the Commissioner or a Justice of the Peace may take to a place of safety any child in respect of whom an offence under this Part or any offence involving bodily injury to a child has been, or there is reason to believe has been, committed.

A child so taken to a place of safety, and also any child who seeks refuge or protection, may be detained in a place of safety until he can be brought before a Magistrate’s Court and the Court may make such order as is mentioned in subsection (3), or may cause the child to be dealt with as circumstances may admit and require, until the charge made against any person in respect of any offence in sections 4 and 5 with regard to the child has been determined by the conviction or discharge of that person.

When it appears to a court that an offence under this Part or any offence involving bodily injury to a child has been committed in respect of any child who is brought before it and that it is expedient, in the interests of the child, that an order should be made under this subsection, the court may, without prejudice to any other power under this Part, make such order as circumstances require for the care and detention of the child until a reasonable time has elapsed for a charge to be made against some person for having committed the offence, and, if a charge is made against any person within that time, until the charge has been determined by the conviction or discharge of that person and in case of conviction, for such further time not exceeding 21 days as the court which convicted that person may direct, and any such order may be carried out notwithstanding that any person claims the custody of the child.