(1)Where a person who is apparently a child is apprehended, with or without warrant, and cannot be brought forthwith before a sheriff sitting summarily, a superintendent or inspector of police, or other officer of police of equal or superior rank, or the officer in charge of the police station to which he is brought, shall inquire into the case, and may liberate him on an obligation that he will attend at the hearing of the charge being entered into by him or his parent or guardian or on bail being found by him or his parent or guardian, for such an amount as will, in the opinion of the officer, secure his attendance at the hearing of the charge, and shall so liberate him unless—
(a)the charge is one of homicide or other grave crime ; or
(b)it is necessary in his interest to remove him from association with any reputed criminal or prostitute ; or
(c)the officer has reason to believe that his liberation would defeat the ends of justice.
(2)Where a person who is apparently a child having been apprehended is not so liberated as aforesaid, the officer of police shall cause him to be detained in a place of safety other than a police station until he can be brought before a sheriff sitting summarily unless the officer certifies—
(a)that it is impracticable to do so ; or
(b)that he is of so unruly a character that he cannot safely be so detained ; or
(c)that by reason of his state of health or of his mental or bodily condition it is inadvisable so to detain him;
and the certificate shall be produced to the court before which he is brought.
(3)Where a person who is apparently a child has been detained under this section and is not so liberated as aforesaid and it is decided not to proceed with the charge against him a constable shall so inform the reporter of the local authority for the area in which the child is detained, and the child may continue to be detained in a place of safety until the reporter has decided on the course that should be taken with regard to the child under the provisions of Part III of the [1968 c. 49.] Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.
(4)A child shall not continue to be detained under this section—
(a)where the reporter considers the child does not require compulsory measures of care,
(b)after the day on which a children's hearing first sit to consider his case in pursuance of section 37(4) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, or
(c)for a period exceeding seven days.