Mental Health Act 1983

(2) In this Act— [“mental disorder” means any disorder or disability of the mind; and “mentally disordered” shall be construed accordingly;] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and other expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them in section 145 below.

(2) For the purposes of this section an accused person is-(a) in relation to the Crown Court, any person who is awaiting trial before the court for an offence punishable with imprisonment or who has been arraigned before the court for such offence and has not yet been sentenced or otherwise dealt with for the offence on which he has been arraigned; (b) in relation to a magistrates' court, any person who has been convicted by the court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment and any person charged with such an offence if the court is satisfied that he did the act or made the omission charged or he has consented to the exercise by the court of the powers conferred by this section.
(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, the powers conferred by this section may be exercised if-(a) the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of a registered medical practitioner, that there is reason to suspect that the accused person is suffering from [ F1 mental disorder] ; and (b) the court is of the opinion that it would be impracticable for a report on his mental condition to be made if he were remanded on bail; but those powers shall not be exercised by the Crown Court in respect of a person who has been convicted before the court if the sentence for the offence of which he has been convicted is fixed by law.
(4) The court shall not remand an accused person to a hospital under this section unless satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F2 approved clinician] who would be responsible for making the report or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of seven days beginning with the date of the remand; and if the court is so satisfied it may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.
(5) Where a court has remanded an accused person under this section it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F2 approved clinician] responsible for making the report, that a further remand is necessary for completing the assessment of the accused person's mental condition. (6) The power of further remanding an accused person under this section may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court if he is represented by [ F3 an authorised person who] is given an opportunity of being heard.
(7) An accused person shall not be remanded or further remanded under this section for more than 28 days at a time or for more than 12 weeks in all; and the court may at any time terminate the remand if it appears to the court that it is appropriate to do so.
(8) An accused person remanded to hospital under this section shall be entitled to obtain at his own expense an independent report on his mental condition from a registered medical practitioner [ F4 or approved clinician] chosen by him and to apply to the court on the basis of it for his remand to be terminated under subsection (7) above.
(9) Where an accused person is remanded under this section-(a) a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the accused person to the hospital specified by the court within the period mentioned in subsection (4) above; and (b) the managers of the hospital shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(10) If an accused person absconds from a hospital to which he has been remanded under this section, or while being conveyed to or from that hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by any constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that remanded him; and the court may thereupon terminate the remand and deal with him in any way in which it could have dealt with him if he had not been remanded under this section.
(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Crown Court may, instead of remanding an accused person in custody, remand him to a hospital specified by the court if satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two registered medical practitioners, that [ F5 (a) he is suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment;][ F6 and (b) appropriate medical treatment is available for him.] (2) For the purposes of this section an accused person is any person who is in custody awaiting trial before the Crown Court for an offence punishable with imprisonment (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law) or who at any time before sentence is in custody in the course of a trial before that court for such an offence.
(3) The court shall not remand an accused person under this section to a hospital unless it is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F7 approved clinician who would have overall responsibility for his case] or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of seven days beginning with the date of the remand; and if the court is so satisfied it may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.
(4) Where a court has remanded an accused person under this section it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F8 responsible clinician] , that a further remand is warranted.
(5) The power of further remanding an accused person under this section may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court if he is represented by [ F9 an authorised person who] is given an opportunity of being heard.
4 Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020-02-03 Changes to legislation: Mental Health Act 1983 to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 03 February 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes (6) An accused person shall not be remanded or further remanded under this section for more than 28 days at a time or for more than 12 weeks in all; and the court may at any time terminate the remand if it appears to the court that it is appropriate to do so.
(7) An accused person remanded to hospital under this section shall be entitled to obtain at his own expense an independent report on his mental condition from a registered medical practitioner [ F10 or approved clinician] chosen by him and to apply to the court on the basis of it for his remand to be terminated under subsection (6) above.

37
Powers of courts to order hospital admission or guardianship.
(1) Where a person is convicted before the Crown Court of an offence punishable with imprisonment other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law, F11 . . . , or is convicted by a magistrates' court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment, and the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are satisfied, the court may by order authorise his admission to and detention in such hospital as may be specified in the order or, as the case may be, place him under the guardianship of a local social services authority or of such other person approved by a local social services authority as may be so specified.
[ F12 (1A) In the case of an offence the sentence for which would otherwise fall to be imposed- Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020 (4) or (6) of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (minimum sentences in certain cases of using someone to mind a weapon),] nothing in those provisions shall prevent a court from making an order under subsection (1) above for the admission of the offender to a hospital.
(1B) References in subsection (1A) above to a sentence falling to be imposed under any of the provisions mentioned in that subsection are to be read in accordance with section 305(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.] (2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are that-(a) the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two registered medical practitioners, that the offender is suffering from [ F21 mental disorder] and that either-(i) the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment and [ F22 appropriate medical treatment is available for him; or] (ii) in the case of an offender who has attained the age of 16 years, the mental disorder is of a nature or degree which warrants his reception into guardianship under this Act; and (b) the court is of the opinion, having regard to all the circumstances including the nature of the offence and the character and antecedents of the offender, and to the other available methods of dealing with him, that the most suitable method of disposing of the case is by means of an order under this section.
(3) Where a person is charged before a magistrates' court with any act or omission as an offence and the court would have power, on convicting him of that offence, to make an order under subsection (1) above in his case F23 . . . , then, if the court is satisfied that the accused did the act or made the omission charged, the court may, if it thinks fit, make such an order without convicting him.
(4) An order for the admission of an offender to a hospital (in this Act referred to as "a hospital order") shall not be made under this section unless the court is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of the [ F24 approved clinician who would have overall responsibility for his case] or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital F25 . . . , and for his admission to it within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the making of such an order; and the court may, pending his admission within that period, give such directions as it thinks fit for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.
(5) If within the said period of 28 days it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of an emergency or other special circumstances it is not practicable for the patient 6 Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020-02-03 Changes to legislation: Mental Health Act 1983  to be received into the hospital specified in the order, he may give directions for the admission of the patient to such other hospital as appears to be appropriate instead of the hospital so specified; and where such directions are given-(a) the Secretary of State shall cause the person having the custody of the patient to be informed, and (b) the hospital order shall have effect as if the hospital specified in the directions were substituted for the hospital specified in the order.
(6) An order placing an offender under the guardianship of a local social services authority or of any other person (in this Act referred to as "a guardianship order") shall not be made under this section unless the court is satisfied that that authority or person is willing to receive the offender into guardianship. Act (binding over of parent or guardian) ] , but the court may make any other order which it] has power to make apart from this section; and for the purposes of this subsection "sentence of imprisonment" includes any sentence or order for detention.  Interim hospital orders.
(1) Where a person is convicted before the Crown Court of an offence punishable with imprisonment (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law) or is convicted by a magistrates' court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment and the court before or by which he is convicted is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two registered medical practitioners-(a) that the offender is suffering from [ F33 mental disorder] ; and (b) that there is reason to suppose that the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is such that it may be appropriate for a hospital order to be made in his case, the court may, before making a hospital order or dealing with him in some other way, make an order (in this Act referred to as "an interim hospital order") authorising his admission to such hospital as may be specified in the order and his detention there in accordance with this section.
(2) In the case of an offender who is subject to an interim hospital order the court may make a hospital order without his being brought before the court if he is represented by [ F34 an authorised person who] is given an opportunity of being heard.
(3) At least one of the registered medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account under subsection (1) above shall be employed at the hospital which is to be specified in the order.
(4) An interim hospital order shall not be made for the admission of an offender to a hospital unless the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F35 approved clinician who would have overall responsibility for his case] or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the order; and if the court is so satisfied the court may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.
(5) An interim hospital order-(a) shall be in force for such period, not exceeding 12 weeks, as the court may specify when making the order; but (b) may be renewed for further periods of not more than 28 days at a time if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the [ F36 responsible clinician] , that the continuation of the order is warranted; but no such order shall continue in force for more than [ F37 twelve months] in all and the court shall terminate the order if it makes a hospital order in respect of the offender or decides after considering the written or oral evidence of the [ F36 responsible clinician] to deal with the offender in some other way. (6) The power of renewing an interim hospital order may be exercised without the offender being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard. (7) If an offender absconds from a hospital in which he is detained in pursuance of an interim hospital order, or while being conveyed to or from such a hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by a constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that made the order; and the court may thereupon terminate the order and deal with him in any way in which it could have dealt with him if no such order had been made.  (1) Where a court is minded to make a guardianship order in respect of any offender, it may request the local social services authority for the area in which the offender resides or last resided, or any other local social services authority that appears to the court to be appropriate-(a) to inform the court whether it or any other person approved by it is willing to receive the offender into guardianship; and (b) if so, to give such information as it reasonably can about how it or the other person could be expected to exercise in relation to the offender the powers conferred by section 40 (2)

40
Effect of hospital orders, guardianship orders and interim hospital orders.
(1) A hospital order shall be sufficient authority-(a) for a constable, an [ F54 approved mental health professional] or any other person directed to do so by the court to convey the patient to the hospital specified in the order within a period of 28 days; and (b) for the managers of the hospital to admit him at any time within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) A guardianship order shall confer on the authority or person named in the order as guardian the same powers as a guardianship application made and accepted under Part II of this Act.
(3) Where an interim hospital order is made in respect of an offender-(a) a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the offender to the hospital specified in the order within the period mentioned in section 38(4) above; and (b) the managers of the hospital shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of section 38 above.
(4) A patient who is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order, or placed under guardianship by a guardianship order, shall, subject to the provisions of this subsection, be treated for the purposes of the provisions of this Act mentioned in Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act as if he had been so admitted or placed on the date of the order in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment or a guardianship application, as the case may be, duly made under Part II of this Act, but subject to any modifications of those provisions specified in that Part of that Schedule.
(5) Where a patient is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order, or placed under guardianship by a guardianship order, any previous application, hospital order or guardianship order by virtue of which he was liable to be detained in a hospital or subject to guardianship shall cease to have effect; but if the first-mentioned order, or the conviction on which it was made, is quashed on appeal, this subsection shall not apply and section 22 above shall have effect as if during any period for which the patient was liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under the order, he had been detained in custody as mentioned in that section.
[ F55 (6) Where-(a) a patient admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order is absent without leave; (b) a warrant to arrest him has been issued under section 72 of the M1 Criminal Justice Act 1967; and (c) he is held pursuant to the warrant in any country or territory other than the United Kingdom, any of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man,  (6) inserted (1.4.1996)

41
Power of higher courts to restrict discharge from hospital.
(1) Where a hospital order is made in respect of an offender by the Crown Court, and it appears to the court, having regard to the nature of the offence, the antecedents of the offender and the risk of his committing further offences if set at large, that it is necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm so to do, the court may, subject to the provisions of this section, further order that the offender shall be subject to the special restrictions set out in this section F56 . . . ; and an order under this section shall be known as "a restriction order".
(2) A restriction order shall not be made in the case of any person unless at least one of the registered medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account by the court under section 37(2)(a) above has given evidence orally before the court.
(3) The special restrictions applicable to a patient in respect of whom a restriction order is in force are as follows-(a) none of the provisions of Part II of this Act relating to the duration, renewal and expiration of authority for the detention of patients shall apply, and the patient shall continue to be liable to be detained by  (4) A hospital order shall not cease to have effect under section 40(5) above if a restriction order in respect of the patient is in force at the material time.
(5) Where a restriction order in respect of a patient ceases to have effect while the relevant hospital order continues in force, the provisions of section 40 above and Part I of Schedule 1 to this Act shall apply to the patient as if he had been admitted to the hospital in pursuance of a hospital order (without a restriction order) made on the date on which the restriction order ceased to have effect. (1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that in the case of any patient a restriction order is no longer required for the protection of the public from serious harm, he may direct that the patient shall cease to be subject to the special restrictions set out in section 41(3) above; and where the Secretary of State so directs, the restriction order shall cease to have effect, and section 41(5) above shall apply accordingly.  (2) At any time while a restriction order is in force in respect of a patient, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, by warrant discharge the patient from hospital, either absolutely or subject to conditions; and where a person is absolutely discharged under this subsection, he shall thereupon cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order, and the restriction order shall cease to have effect accordingly.
(3) The Secretary of State may at any time during the continuance in force of a restriction order in respect of a patient who has been conditionally discharged under subsection (2) above by warrant recall the patient to such hospital as may be specified in the warrant.
(4) Where a patient is recalled as mentioned in subsection (3) above-(a) if the hospital specified in the warrant is not the hospital from which the patient was conditionally discharged, the hospital order and the restriction order shall have effect as if the hospital specified in the warrant were substituted for the hospital specified in the hospital order; (b) in any case, the patient shall be treated for the purposes of section 18 above as if he had absented himself without leave from the hospital specified in the warrant F62 . . . .
(5) If a restriction order in respect of a patient ceases to have effect after the patient has been conditionally discharged under this section, the patient shall, unless previously recalled under subsection (3) above, be deemed to be absolutely discharged on the date when the order ceases to have effect, and shall cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order accordingly.
(6) The Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the attendance at any place in Great Britain of a patient who is subject to a restriction order is desirable in the interests of justice or for the purposes of any public inquiry, direct him to be taken to that place; and where a patient is directed under this subsection to be taken to any place he shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, be kept in custody while being so taken, while at that place and while being taken back to the hospital in which he is liable to be detained.

43
Power of magistrates' courts to commit for restriction order.
(1) If in the case of a person of or over the age of 14 years who is convicted by a magistrates' court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment-(a) the conditions which under section 37(1) above are required to be satisfied for the making of a hospital order are satisfied in respect of the offender; but (b) it appears to the court, having regard to the nature of the offence, the antecedents of the offender and the risk of his committing further offences if set at large, that if a hospital order is made a restriction order should also be made, Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020  the court may, instead of making a hospital order or dealing with him in any other manner, commit him in custody to the Crown Court to be dealt with in respect of the offence.
(2) Where an offender is committed to the Crown Court under this section, the Crown Court shall inquire into the circumstances of the case and may-(a) if that court would have power so to do under the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act upon the conviction of the offender before that court of such an offence as is described in section 37(1) above, make a hospital order in his case, with or without a restriction order; (b) if the court does not make such an order, deal with the offender in any other manner in which the magistrates' court might have dealt with him.
(3) The Crown Court shall have the same power to make orders under sections 35, 36 and 38 above in the case of a person committed to the court under this section as the Crown Court has under those sections in the case of an accused person within the meaning of section 35 or 36 above or of a person convicted before that court as mentioned in section 38 above.
[ F63 (4) The powers of a magistrates' court under section 3 or 3B of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (which enable such a court to commit an offender to the Crown Court where the court is of the opinion, or it appears to the court, as mentioned in the section in question) shall also be exercisable by a magistrates' court where it is of that opinion (or it so appears to it) unless a hospital order is made in the offender's case with a restriction order.] (5) The power of the Crown Court to make a hospital order, with or without a restriction order, in the case of a person convicted before that court of an offence may, in the same circumstances and subject to the same conditions, be exercised by such a court in the case of a person committed to the court under section 5 of the M2 Vagrancy Act 1824 (which provides for the committal to the Crown Court of persons who are incorrigible rogues within the meaning of that section).
(1) Where an offender is committed under section 43(1) above and the magistrates' court by which he is committed is satisfied on written or oral evidence that arrangements have been made for the admission of the offender to a hospital in the event of an order being made under this section, the court may, instead of committing him in custody, by order direct him to be admitted to that hospital, specifying it, and to be detained there until the case is disposed of by the Crown Court, and may give such directions as 16 Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020-02-03 Changes to legislation: Mental Health Act 1983  it thinks fit for this production from the hospital to attend the Crown Court by which his case is to be dealt with.
(2) The evidence required by subsection (1) above shall be given by the [ F64 approved clinician who would have overall responsibility for the offender's case] or by some other person representing the managers of the hospital in question.
(3) The power to give directions under section 37(4) above, section 37(5) above and section 40(1) above shall apply in relation to an order under this section as they apply in relation to a hospital order, but as if references to the period of 28 days mentioned in section 40(1) above were omitted; and subject as aforesaid an order under this section shall, until the offender's case is disposed of by the Crown Court, have the same effect as a hospital order together with a restriction order F65 . . . .
(1) Where on the trial of an information charging a person with an offence a magistrates' court makes a hospital order or guardianship order in respect of him without convicting him, he shall have the same right of appeal against the order as if it had been made on his conviction; and on any such appeal the Crown Court shall have the same powers as if the appeal had been against both conviction and sentence.
(2) An appeal by a child or young person with respect to whom any such order has been made, whether the appeal is against the order or against the finding upon which the order was made, may be brought by him or by his parent or guardian on his behalf.

45A
Power of higher courts to direct hospital admission.
(1) This section applies where, in the case of a person convicted before the Crown Court of an offence the sentence for which is not fixed by law-(a) the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are fulfilled; and (b) F68 . . . , the court considers making a hospital order in respect of him before deciding to impose a sentence of imprisonment ("the relevant sentence") in respect of the offence.  (2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are that the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two registered medical practitioners-(a) that the offender is suffering from [ F69 mental disorder] ; (b) that the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment; and [ F70 (c) that appropriate medical treatment is available for him.] (3) The court may give both of the following directions, namely-(a) a direction that, instead of being removed to and detained in a prison, the offender be removed to and detained in such hospital as may be specified in the direction (in this Act referred to as a "hospital direction"); and (b) a direction that the offender be subject to the special restrictions set out in section 41 above (in this Act referred to as a "limitation direction").
(4) A hospital direction and a limitation direction shall not be given in relation to an offender unless at least one of the medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account by the court under subsection (2) above has given evidence orally before the court.
(5) A hospital direction and a limitation direction shall not be given in relation to an offender unless the court is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of the [ F71 approved clinician who would have overall responsibility for his case] , or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital that arrangements have been made-(a) for his admission to that hospital; and (b) for his admission to it within the period of 28 days beginning with the day of the giving of such directions; and the court may, pending his admission within that period, give such directions as it thinks fit for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety. (6) If within the said period of 28 days it appears to the Secretary of State that by reason of an emergency or other special circumstances it is not practicable for the patient to be received into the hospital specified in the hospital direction, he may give instructions for the admission of the patient to such other hospital as appears to be appropriate instead of the hospital so specified.
(7) Where such instructions are given-(a) the Secretary of State shall cause the person having the custody of the patient to be informed, and (b) the hospital direction shall have effect as if the hospital specified in the instructions were substituted for the hospital specified in the hospital direction.
(8) Section 38(1) and (5) and section 39 above shall have effect as if any reference to the making of a hospital order included a reference to the giving of a hospital direction and a limitation direction.
(9) A hospital direction and a limitation direction given in relation to an offender shall have effect not only as regards the relevant sentence but also (so far as applicable) as regards any other sentence of imprisonment imposed on the same or a previous occasion.  (1.10.1997) by 1997 c. 43, s. 46; S.I. 1997/2200, art. 2 (with saving in art. 5 (1) (1) A hospital direction and a limitation direction shall be sufficient authority-(a) for a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court to convey the patient to the hospital specified in the hospital direction within a period of 28 days; and (b) for the managers of the hospital to admit him at any time within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(2) With respect to any person-(a) a hospital direction shall have effect as a transfer direction; and (b) a limitation direction shall have effect as a restriction direction.
(3) While a person is subject to a hospital direction and a limitation direction the  Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020  Transfer to hospital of prisoners, etc.

47
Removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment, etc.
(1) If in the case of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment the Secretary of State is satisfied, by reports from at least two registered medical practitioners-(a) that the said person is suffering from [ F76 mental disorder]; and (b) that the mental disorder from which that person is suffering is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment[ F77 ; and (c) that appropriate medical treatment is available for him;] the Secretary of State may, if he is of the opinion having regard to the public interest and all the circumstances that it is expedient so to do, by warrant direct that that person be removed to and detained in such hospital F78 . . . as may be specified in the direction; and a direction under this section shall be known as "a transfer direction".
(2) A transfer direction shall cease to have effect at the expiration of the period of 14 days beginning with the date on which it is given unless within that period the person with respect to whom it was given has been received into the hospital specified in the direction.
(3) A transfer direction with respect to any person shall have the same effect as a hospital order made in his case. Courts Act 1980 (which relates to persons who fail to comply with an order to enter into recognisances to keep the peace or be of good behaviour); and 20 Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020-02-03 Changes to legislation: Mental Health Act 1983  (c) to a person committed by a court to a prison or other institution to which the M4 Prison Act 1952 applies in default of payment of any sum adjudged to be paid on his conviction.
[ F83 (6) In subsection (5)(a) "service disciplinary proceedings" means proceedings in respect of a service offence within the meaning of the Armed Forces Act 2006 Mental Health Act 1983(c. 20) Part III -Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings or Under Sentence Document Generated: 2020 (2) This section applies to the following persons, that is to say-(a) persons detained in a prisonor remand centre, not being persons serving a sentence of imprisonment or persons falling within the following paragraphs of this subsection; (b) persons remanded in custody by a magistrates' court; (c) civil prisoners, that is to say, persons committed by a court to prison for a limited term F86 . . . , who are not persons falling to be dealt with under section 47 above;

49
Restriction on discharge of prisoners removed to hospital.
(1) Where a transfer direction is given in respect of any person, the Secretary of State, if he thinks fit, may by warrant further direct that that person shall be subject to the special restrictions set out in section 41 above; and where the Secretary of State gives a transfer direction in respect of any such person as is described in paragraph (a) or (b) of section 48 (2) above, he shall also give a direction under this section applying those restrictions to him.
(2) A direction under this section shall have the same effect as a restriction order made under section 41 above and shall be known as "a restriction direction".
( supervision which would have been exercisable if he had been remitted to such a prison or institution as aforesaid, and on his arrival in the prison or other institution or, as the case may be, his release or discharge as aforesaid, the transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect. [ F94 (2) A restriction direction in the case of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment shall cease to have effect, if it has not previously done so, on his release date.
(3) In this section, references to a person's release date are to the day (if any) on which he would be entitled to be released (whether unconditionally or on licence) from any prison or other institution in which he might have been detained if the transfer direction had not been given; and in determining that day there shall be disregarded-(a) any powers that would be exercisable by the Parole Board if he were detained in such a prison or other institution, and (b) any practice of the Secretary of State in relation to the early release under discretionary powers of persons detained in such a prison or other institution.] (4) For the purposes of section 49(2) of the M6 Prison Act 1952 (which provides for discounting from the sentences of certain prisoners periods while they are unlawfully at large) a patient who, having been transferred in pursuance of a transfer direction from any such institution as is referred to in that section, is at large in circumstances in which he is liable to be taken into custody under any provision of this Act, shall be treated as unlawfully at large and absent from that institution.
[ F95 (5) The preceding provisions of this section shall have effect as if-(a) the reference in subsection (1) to a transfer direction and a restriction direction having been given in respect of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment included a reference to a hospital direction and a limitation direction having been given in respect of a person sentenced to imprisonment; (b) the reference in subsection (2) to a restriction direction included a reference to a limitation direction; and (c) references in subsections (3) and (4)  para. 57 (with ss. 29 , 192 , 193 ); S.I. 2009/3250 , art. 2(h) (subject to art. 6 , 9 ) Marginal Citations M7 1980 c. 43 .

Further provisions as to civil prisoners and persons detained under [ F110 the Immigration Acts].
(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a transfer direction given in respect of any such person as is described in paragraph (c) or (d) of section 48 (2) above shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period during which he would, but for his removal to hospital, be liable to be detained in the place from which he was removed.
(2) Where a transfer direction and a restriction direction have been given in respect of any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1)  appropriate tribunal] at any time before the expiration of the period there mentioned-(a) that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or (b) that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed, the Secretary of State may by warrant direct that he be remitted to any place where he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, and on his arrival at the place to which he is so remitted the transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect. Requirements as to medical evidence.

Textual Amendments
(1) The registered medical practitioner whose evidence is taken into account under section 35(3)(a) above and at least one of the registered medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account under sections 36 (1), 37(2)(a), 38(1) [ F114 45A (2)] and 51(6)(a) above and whose reports are taken into account under sections 47(1) and 48(1) above shall be a practitioner approved for the purposes of section 12 above by the Secretary of State [ F115 , or by another person by virtue of section 12ZA or 12ZB above,] as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder.
[ F116 (2) For the purposes of any provision of this Part of this Act under which a court may act on the written evidence of any person, a report in writing purporting to be signed by that person may, subject to the provisions of this section, be received in evidence without proof of the following-(a) the signature of the person; or (b) his having the requisite qualifications or approval or authority or being of the requisite description to give the report.
(2A) But the court may require the signatory of any such report to be called to give oral evidence.] (3) Where, in pursuance of a direction of the court, any such report is tendered in evidence otherwise than by or on behalf of the person who is the subject of the report, then-(a) if that person is represented by [ F117 an authorised person] , a copy of the report shall be given to [ F118 that authorised person] ; (b) if that person is not so represented, the substance of the report shall be disclosed to him or, where he is a child or young person, to his parent or guardian if present in court; and (c) except where the report relates only to arrangements for his admission to a hospital, that person may require the signatory of the report to be called to give oral evidence, and evidence to rebut the evidence contained in the report may be called by or on behalf of that person.