Police And Defence Force On Alert
President Christine Kangaloo, on Monday, March 2nd, signed a proclamation declaring a State of Public Emergency, citing threats “on so extensive a scale” that they endanger public safety. The proclamation took effect at 12:01am on Tuesday.
Under Legal Notice No. 39, the President stated she was “satisfied that a public emergency has arisen as a result of actions taken, or immediately threatened, by any person, of such a nature and scale as to endanger public safety.” This triggered Legal Notice No. 40, the Emergency Powers Regulations 2026, granting authorities broad powers to safeguard the public.
It states that under the orders, the Commissioner of Police is now authorised, “to prohibit or restrict the possession or use by any person or body of persons of any specified articles” and to impose on any person, “any restrictions in respect of his employment or business” and “association or communication with other persons.”
Police are also empowered to enforce curfews, noting that the Police Commissioner is authorised “to prohibit any person from being out of doors between such hours as may be specified, except under the authority of a written permit.”
According to the Regulations, police may also “enter and search any premises; or stop and search any vessel, vehicle or individual, whether in a public place or not.”
It added that a police officer may arrest without warrant any person whom he suspects has acted or is acting or is about to act in a manner prejudicial to public safety, adding that such police officer may take such steps and use such force as may appear to him to be necessary for effecting the arrest or preventing the escape of such person.
It noted that officers may detain anyone they suspect, without a warrant, and could be detained beyond 48 hours with the authority of a Magistrate or of a police officer not below the rank of Assistant Superintendent.
In the regulations, the Defence Force has also been placed on alert, noting that “the Commander of the Defence Force established under the Defence Act, shall hold his forces in readiness to assist, and if called upon by the Commissioner of Police shall co-operate with and assist, the Commissioner of Police in the performance of his duties under these Regulations.”
As for offences and penalties, a person who commits an offence under the Regulations is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for a term of five years.
