(1) If a police officer finds in a place to which the public have access any person who appears to him to be suffering from mental illness and to be in immediate need of care or control the police officer may, if he thinks it necessary to do so in the interest of that person or for the protection of other persons, remove that person to a place of safety.

(2) A person removed to a place of safety under this section may be detained there for a period not exceeding seventy-two hours for the purpose of enabling him to be examined by a medical practitioner and for him to be interviewed by a mental welfare officer and of making any necessary arrangements for his treatment or care.