Under the proposed legislation, it is the duty of the police to regulate and control traffic, to divert all or any particular kinds of traffic when it is in the public interest so to do, to keep order on public roads/places, and to prevent obstruction on the territories public thoroughfares.

But according to Section 24(2) of the aforementioned legislation, a person who opposes or disobeys any lawful order given by a police officer in the performance of his or her duty under this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.

Offenders may be arrested without a warrant and the cause of any obstruction shall be removed or caused to be removed by the police officer and sent to the police pound.

Section 25 of the same Bill further states that a person could spend 12 months in prison and/or pay a thousand-dollar fine if they refuse to give his or her name and address to an on-duty police officer who requests it.

The proposed Bill states they may also be arrested without a warrant.

These and many other provisions are outlined in the newly proposed Bill which seeks to repeal and replace the Police Act (Revised Edition 2013). It also seeks to make provisions for matters including the powers, duties and privileges of police officers; police bail and breaches, and police property.

The Bill was recently gazetted for public review.