Sentencing Act 2017

A police officer may, on the authorisation of a senior police officer, without warrant, arrest a serious child sex offender released on licence under section 48K if the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the serious child sex offender has breached a condition of the release on licence.

If a serious child sex offender is arrested under subsection (1)—

the serious child sex offender must be taken to the nearest police station; and

within 12 hours of the arrest—the presiding member or deputy presiding member of the appropriate board (or, if neither of those members is available, a magistrate) must be notified of the arrest; and

as soon as is reasonably practicable after being so notified—the presiding member or deputy presiding member of the appropriate board, or the magistrate, (as the case requires) must, by order, direct that the serious child sex offender—

be detained in custody pending attendance before the appropriate board; or

be released and summoned to attend before the appropriate board;

be released from custody.