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Article 124 Assisting patients to absent themselves without leaveC1C2

Changes not yet applied. Later legislation changes this provision in ways not yet written into the text below:

(1)

Any person who induces or knowingly assists any other person—

(a)

being liable under this Order to be detained in a hospital, or being subject to guardianship under this Order, to absent himself without leave; or

(b)

being in legal custody by virtue of Article 131 to escape from such custody;

shall be guilty of an offence.

(2)

Any person who knowingly harbours a patient who is absent without leave or is otherwise at large and liable to be retaken under this Order, or gives him any assistance with intent to prevent, hinder or interfere with his being taken into custody or returned to the hospital or other place where he ought to be, shall be guilty of an offence.

(3)

Any person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable—

(a)

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;

(b)

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine of any amount, or to both.

Annotations

Modifications

C1

Art. 124 applied (with modifications.) (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/22), regs. 1, 3(8), 4

C2

Art. 124 applied (with modifications) (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/403), regs. 1, 3(8)(a)(i), 4