Singapore legislation

Section 13

of Children and Young Persons Act 1993

Section 13

Warrant to search for or remove child or young person

Amended by3/201127/20143/20113/201130/2019

(1)

If a Magistrate’s Court, upon receiving any information or complaint, has reason to believe that a relevant offence has been or is being committed in respect of a child or young person, the Court may issue a warrant authorising any police officer named therein to search for the child or young person, if necessary, and remove the child or young person and commit him or her to a place of temporary care and protection until he or she can be brought before a Youth Court to be dealt with under section 54.

Amended by3/201127/2014

(2)

A warrant issued by a Magistrate’s Court under this section may authorise the police officer named therein, before committing the child or young person concerned to a place of temporary care and protection, to present the child or young person before a registered medical practitioner or an approved welfare officer for an assessment or for any medical or other treatment as may appear to be necessary.

Amended by3/2011

(3)

Sections 11(2), (3) and (4) and 12(1) to (4) apply, with the necessary modifications, in the case where a child or young person is removed under this section as they apply in the case where a child or young person is removed under section 11.

Amended by3/2011

(4)

A Magistrate’s Court issuing a warrant under this section may, by the same warrant, cause any person accused of any offence in respect of the child or young person to be apprehended and brought before the Court and proceedings to be taken against that person according to law.

(5)

Any police officer authorised by warrant under this section to search for any child or young person or to remove any child or young person, with or without search, may enter, by the use of force if necessary, any house, building or other place specified in the warrant and may remove the child or young person therefrom.

(6)

Every warrant issued under this section —

(a)

must be addressed to and executed by a police officer who must be accompanied by the person laying the information, if that person so desires, unless the Magistrate’s Court by which the warrant is issued otherwise directs; and

(b)

may, if the Court by which the warrant is issued so directs, also be accompanied by a registered medical practitioner appointed by the Director‑General for the purpose.

Amended by30/2019

(7)

It is not necessary in any information or warrant under this section to name the child or young person, but, in such case, the child or young person must be described as particularly as the knowledge of the informant or the Magistrate’s Court permits.[10