Prevention of offences—general
52 Prevention of offences—general
This section applies if a police officer reasonably suspects an offence has been committed, is being committed, or is about to be committed.
It is lawful for a police officer to take the steps the police officer considers reasonably necessary to prevent the commission, continuation or repetition of an offence.Example of preventing the commission of an offence—A police officer who reasonably suspects the way a person in the vicinity of a prisoner is acting threatens or is likely to threaten the security of the prisoner or the security or good order of the place where the prisoner is detained may require the person to leave the vicinity of the prisoner or the place of detention.Examples of preventing the continuation of an offence—
1 A police officer may direct a person who is obstructing an ambulance officer acting under the authority of the Ambulance Service Act 1991 to leave the place where the person is and, if the person fails to leave, may use reasonably necessary force to remove the person.
2 A police officer may remove or deface an obscene or indecent placard, picture, writing or advertisement attached to a place or thing if it contravenes an Act because it is visible to members of the public.
3 A police officer who stops a child unlawfully riding an electrically power-assisted cycle or personal mobility device may take possession of the cycle or device to prevent the child continuing to ride it when the officer leaves the area, on the basis that the cycle or device will later be released to the child’s parent or another responsible adult for the child.
This Act’s bill:Explanatory memorandum
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