(2)  Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person, who upon being questioned by the officer fails to satisfy the officer as to his identity or as to the purposes for which he is in the place where he is found, and who such officer suspects has acted or is about to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Singapore or any part thereof.

(3)  No person shall be detained under this section for a period exceeding 24 hours except with the authority of a police officer of or above the rank of assistant superintendent of police or, subject as hereinafter provided, for a period of 48 hours in all.

(4)  If an officer of or above the rank of superintendent of police is satisfied that the necessary enquiries cannot be completed within the period of 48 hours prescribed by subsection (3) he may authorise the further detention of any person detained under this section for an additional period not exceeding 28 days.

(5)  Any officer giving any authorisation under subsection (4) shall forthwith report the circumstances thereof to the Commissioner of Police; and where such authorisation authorises detention for any period exceeding 14 days the Commissioner of Police shall forthwith report the circumstances thereof to the Minister.

(6)  The powers conferred upon a police officer by subsections (1) and (2) may be exercised by any member of the security forces, by any person performing the duties of a guard or watchman in a protected place, and by any other person generally authorised in that behalf under section 3 of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act [Cap. 256].

(7)  Any person detained under the powers conferred by this section shall be deemed to be in lawful custody, and may be detained in any prison, or in any police station, or in any other similar place authorised generally or specially by the Minister.