(1)Where a child is not released on bail, the court may make an order remanding or committing the child to custody in a remand home to be named in the order, situated in the same area as the court making the order.

(2)Where there is no remand home within a reasonable distance of the court, the court shall make an order as to the detention of the child in a place of safe custody as it deems fit.

(3)For the purposes of this section, a place of safe custody shall be a place which the court considers fit to provide good care for the child and assures that the child shall be brought to court when required and shall not associate with any adult detainee.

(4)The local government council shall provide an appropriate place of custody; and before making an order remanding or committing a child in custody, the court shall ascertain that there is a place readily available.

(5)Remand in custody shall not exceed—

(6)A child shall not be remanded in custody in an adult prison.

(7)A child who escapes from a remand home or other place of safe custody in which he or she is detained may be arrested with or without warrant and returned to that place.

(8)Pending the establishment of remand homes, the Minister may declare any establishment as a remand home.

(9)Whenever possible, the court shall consider alternatives to remand such as close supervision or placement with a fit person determined by the court on the recommendation of a probation and social welfare officer.