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Police - Powers, Duties And Privileges Of Police Officers (Ss 16-20)

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16.     General powers and duties

          (1) Every police officer shall be liable for duty at all times, and at any time may be detailed for duty in any part of Botswana, or any duty outside Botswana which the Commissioner may reasonably authorize or require.

          (2) Every police officer shall be an officer of the court with responsibility for the prompt service or execution of any summons or warrant or process directed to him with regard to any criminal matter.

          (3) It shall be the duty of every police officer at all times to perform and carry out the duties entrusted to him to the best of his ability, and at such times to comply with any general or specific orders which may be applicable to him.

          (4) It shall be the duty of every police officer at all times to comply with any general or specific orders issued by the Commissioner or other competent police authority.

          (5) It shall be the duty of every police officer at all times to protect life and property, prevent and detect crime, repress internal disturbance, maintain security and public tranquillity, apprehend offenders, bring offenders to justice, enforce all written laws with which the Service is directly charged and generally maintain the peace.

17.     Duty to lay information and apply for summons, etc.

          It shall be the duty of a police officer to lay information before a magistrate and to apply for a summons, search warrant or such other process as may by law be issued against any person in relation to any criminal matter.

18.     Powers with regard to fires

          (1) Any police officer may break into and enter upon any land, premises, vehicle or any place whatsoever being, or appearing to be on fire or in danger from fire, without the consent of any persons, and may do all acts or things deemed to be necessary for extinguishing such fire on any such land, premises, vehicle or other place or for protecting the same or other property or rescuing any person or property from fire.

          (2) A police officer may call upon any able-bodied male adult person to assist in quelling a fire, or to give assistance at the scene of a fire.

          (3) No action shall lie in any court of law against any police officer or any other person acting under the instructions of any police officer for the recovery of any damage caused in exercising the powers conferred upon him by subsection (1) unless it is proved that such damage was caused mala fide.

          (4) Any person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses a call by any police officer to assist in quelling a fire, or to give assistance at the scene of a fire, shall be guilty of an offence, and be liable to a fine not exceeding P1000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.

19.     Other employment forbidden

          No police officer shall, without the consent of the Commissioner, engage in any employment or business whatsoever, other than in accordance with his duties under this Act.

20.     Uniform and equipment

          (1) Police officers shall be provided with free uniform and equipment; such uniform and equipment shall remain the property of the Government.

          (2) When a person ceases to be a police officer he shall forthwith deliver up to the person appointed by the Commissioner for the purpose, or to the officer in charge of police where he was last stationed all accoutrements, uniform and other equipment; such uniform and equipment shall remain the property of the Government.