54. Attempts to commit service offence

Any person who, with intent to commit an offence under this Part, by act or omission behaves in a manner that is, or that the person believes to be, a substantial step towards the commission of the offence is deemed, for the purpose of this section, to have attempted to commit the offence.

Any person who attempts to commit a service offence under any of the provisions of this Part shall be liable on conviction to the like punishment for that offence.

Any person charged with attempting to commit a service offence may be convicted of the attempt even though the evidence in the proceedings proves that the person committed the offence.

Where an attempt to commit a service offence is voluntarily abandoned, the fact and circumstances of that abandonment may be taken into consideration in mitigation of any punishment to be imposed in respect of the attempt.