AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

Police Offence Ordinance 1967

No. 3 of 1967

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

	This Ordinance amends the Police Offences Ordinance 1930-1961, which deals with many minor offences prosecuted by the police in lower courts, concerning mostly behaviour in public places, offences against property, offences involving dishonesty, and certain acts of violence.

	More far-reaching amendments to the Police Offences Ordinance 1930-1961, including amendments in relation to carrying offensive weapons, use of fireworks, issue of valueless cheques, and general review of penalties, are in preparation.  The minor amendments now made are therefore limited to the non-controversial matter of adapting the existing provisions of the Police Offences Ordinance to the situation that has arisen as a result of the creation of Lake Burley Griffin, and bringing some of the provisions affected up to date in certain other respects.

	The offences created by the present amendments by way of extension of existing provisions will be as follows :–

(1)	being found in any boatshed or boat for any unlawful purpose (section 23 (1.) (p));

(2)	wandering about and lodging in any boatshed, vehicle or boat, and being without visible means of support and unable to give a satisfactory explanations (section 23 (1.) (g));

(3)	being found without lawful excuse in or on a vehicle or boat (section 24B);

(4)	placing any obstruction upon a lake whereby life or limb is likely to be endangered (section 43 (a));

(5)	throwing or leaving, or causing to be thrown or left, any dead animal, or part thereof into any lake adjoining any public place, or upon the shores of any such lake (section 56, (a) and (b)).

	Opportunity is also taken to repeal section 37 of the existing Ordinance.  That section deals with the taking or using a vehicle without the consent of the owner – an offence since 1963 fully covered in relation to summary prosecutions by section 526A of the Crimes Act, 1900, of New South Wales, in its application to the Australian Capital Territory.  The latter section applies also to taking boats without the consent of the owner.