Singapore legislation
Section 56
Section 56
Powers of arrest
(1)
Any police officer, or any Health Officer authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under section 11(1), 20(3), 21A(4), 23(3), 24(3) or 55(8).
(2)
Subject to subsection (1), any police officer, or any Health Officer authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director‑General, the Director‑General, Food Administration or the Director, may arrest without warrant any person committing or who he or she has reason to believe has committed any offence under this Act if —
the name and address of the person are unknown to him or her;
the person declines to give the person’s name and address;
the person gives an address outside Singapore; or
there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address if given.
(3)
Subject to subsection (8), any police officer, or any Health Officer authorised in writing in that behalf by the Director, may arrest without warrant any person who —
being required to be isolated in any place under the provisions of this Act, has failed to proceed to that place or has left or attempted to leave that place; (b)being required to undergo or submit to any surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment under the provisions of this Act, has failed to undergo or submit to the surveillance, examination or treatment or comply with any condition relating to the surveillance; or
being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director.
(4)
Any person who, being required to comply with any requirement mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b), attempts to leave Singapore without the approval of the Director shall be guilty of an offence.
(5)
Any person arrested under subsection (2) must, within 24 hours from the arrest or immediately in the case of a person who gives his or her address as a place outside Singapore, be taken before a Magistrate’s Court, unless before that time his or her true name and residence are ascertained, in which case the person must be immediately released on his or her executing a bond with or without sureties before a police officer not below the rank of inspector for the person’s appearance before a Magistrate’s Court, if so required.
(6)
Without affecting subsection (5), a person arrested must not be detained longer than is necessary for bringing him or her before a court unless the order of a court for his or her detention is obtained.
(7)
The Director may issue any order under this Act for the isolation, surveillance, medical examination or medical treatment of a person arrested under subsection (3).
(8)
A police officer or Health Officer may, instead of arresting a person mentioned in subsection (3), take such measures as he or she thinks fit —
in a case where that person is to be isolated —
to cause that person to be taken to the place where he or she is to be isolated; or
to ensure that the person remains in isolation in his or her own dwelling place,for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director thinks necessary for the protection of the public;
in a case where that person is to undergo surveillance, to cause that person to undergo surveillance for such period of time and subject to such conditions as the Director thinks necessary for the protection of the public; or
in a case where that person is to undergo medical examination or medical treatment, to cause that person to be medically examined or treated.
(9)
The measures mentioned in subsection (8) may extend to —
the entry into any premises without a warrant; and
the use of such force as may be necessary.