Public Order and Safety (Special Powers) Act 2018 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 4 · Special Powers
19. Power to close roads, etc.
Feedback & supportSubject to subsection (3), a police officer may, pursuant to a special authorisation, by order —
police officer
“police officer” includes —(a)a member of the Special Constabulary established under the Police Force Act 2004; and(b)an auxiliary police officer appointed as such under Part 9 of the Police Force Act 2004;
wholly or partly close any public road within, or leading to or from, the target area of the special authorisation;
prohibit or restrict the use of a waterway within, or leading to or from, the target area of the special authorisation; (c)divert or otherwise interfere with a public road or waterway mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) (as the case may be) or the use of such a road or waterway; or
prohibit or restrict the exercise of a right of way within, or leading to or from, the target area of the special authorisation.
Subject to subsection (3), a police officer may, pursuant to a special authorisation, by order prohibit or restrict access by vehicles, vessels or pedestrians to the target area of the special authorisation.
The period that a public road, waterway or right of way may be closed, prohibited or restricted under this section must not exceed 24 hours unless the order under subsection (1) or (2) is confirmed by the Commissioner before the end of the initial or a prior 24 hours.
public road
“public road” means a road within the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1961, and includes any path over which a member of the public has a right of way;
An order under this section may be given orally, and if an oral direction is given by a police officer to a group of individuals, it is deemed to have been given to each member of the group if the oral direction is made in a manner that is likely to be audible to all the members of the group or as many of them as reasonably practicable.
If an individual, or a driver or person in charge of a vehicle or vessel, fails to comply with an order given under this section by a police officer, the police officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with that order, including the use of lethal weapons.
vehicle
“vehicle” means any means of transport used on land, whether self‑propelled or not, such as a train, motor car, bicycle or personal mobility device;
An individual, or a driver or person in charge of a vehicle or vessel, commits an offence if the individual, driver or person, without reasonable excuse, refuses or fails to comply with an order of a police officer under this section when required to do so.
An individual, or a driver or person, who is guilty of an offence under subsection (6) shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.