Singapore legislation

Clause 63

of Civil Defence (Amendment) Bill

Clause 63

Avoidance of delay after arrest

(1)

When a member exercises his power of arrest or receives a person into service custody, he shall as soon as practicable having regard to the circumstances of the arrest cause the person arrested to be transferred to the custody of a commanding officer.

(2)

Where a person arrested has come into the custody of a commanding officer, that commanding officer shall release the person arrested as soon as his continued custody, for one of the reasons specified in paragraph (b) of section 57(1), is no longer necessary and may impose such restrictions as are permitted by section 64.

(3)

When a person arrested is not released in accordance with subsection (2), the commanding officer into whose custody the person arrested has been transferred in accordance with subsection (1) shall, within 24 hours of receiving the person into custody, cause him to be given a copy of the charge on which he is being held.

(4)

Within 48 hours of a person arrested being received into custody of a commanding officer, the commanding officer is to cause proceedings to be commenced for the hearing and determination of the charge or report his reasons for not so doing to the appropriate authority.

(5)

Where a person who has been charged with an offence remains in custody for a period exceeding 4 days without the charge having been disposed of or tried by a disciplinary officer, the commanding officer shall make a report in writing to the appropriate authority stating the reasons for the delay.

(6)

The commanding officer shall make a similar report to the appropriate authority at the conclusion of each subsequent period of 4 days if the person is still held in custody without the charge having been disposed of or tried by a disciplinary officer.

(7)

A commanding officer who certifies in writing that, having regard to the exigencies of service, it is not reasonably practicable to do so, is not required to comply with subsection (5) or (6).

(8)

Where a person remains in custody for 8 days and the charge against him has not been heard and determined, it is the duty of the appropriate authority to whom a report under subsection (5) or (6) has been made to notify the Commissioner of the reasons why the charge has not been heard and determined.

(9)

Upon receipt of a notification in accordance with subsection (8), the Commissioner shall, unless he is satisfied that it is proper that the person should continue in custody, order the release of the person from custody.