Emergency exercise of powers
87N Emergency exercise of powers
If—
a police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that there is a large-scale public disorder occurring or a threat of such a disorder occurring in the near future, and
the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the occupants of a vehicle on a road have participated or intend to participate in the public disorder,
the officer may exercise the powers conferred under this Division in relation to the vehicle (and any person or thing in or on the vehicle) without an authorisation having been given under this Division in connection with the public disorder or threatened public disorder.
Before exercising any such power, the officer must obtain approval to do so (orally or in writing) from a police officer of or above the rank of Inspector. Approval is not to be given unless the police officer is satisfied that the officer seeking to exercise the power has reasonable grounds for the suspicions referred to in subsection (1).
A police officer is to cease exercising powers under this section—
if the officer is notified that an application for an authorisation under this Division in connection with the public disorder or threatened disorder has been granted or refused, or
if 3 hours has expired since approval was given for the exercise of those powers,
whichever first occurs.
This section does not authorise a police officer to exercise the powers under section 87MA.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandumSecond reading speech
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