17—Respondent's rights at hearing of application
(1) The respondent may
be represented by a legal practitioner at the hearing of the application.
(2) If the respondent
is a protected person, he or she must be represented by an appropriate
representative at the hearing (and may also be represented by a legal
practitioner).
(3) An appropriate
representative may be—
(a) a
parent, relative or friend chosen by, or acceptable to, the protected person;
or
(b) if
there is no available person in the above category—an advocate for the
protected person nominated by a government or private agency with
responsibilities for the care of protected persons of the relevant class; or
(c) if
there is no available person within the above categories—a person, who
is not a police officer or person involved in the investigation of the
suspected offence, chosen by a police officer in charge of a police station or
the investigating police officer.
(4) A hearing may be
conducted by telephone or other electronic means provided that the respondent
or the respondent's representatives (if any) are given a reasonable
opportunity to make representations at the hearing to the
senior police officer who is determining the application.