NTIn ForceAct
Police Administration Act 1978
135BPower to make public disorder declaration
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135B Power to make public disorder declaration
(1) The Commissioner may make a declaration under this section (a
public disorder declaration) if the Commissioner believes on
reasonable grounds that:
(a) public disorder is occurring at a public place or there is an
imminent risk of public disorder occurring at a public place;
and
(b) the use of the powers set out in this Division is required to
prevent, stop or reduce the public disorder at the public place.
(2) A public disorder declaration:
(a) must be made in writing or, if it is not reasonably practicable in
the circumstances for it to be made in writing, may be made
orally; and
(b) must specify the matters mentioned in section 135C(1); and
(c) takes effect immediately on being made; and
Police Administration Act 1978 115
(d) subject to sections 135F and 135G, is in force for the period of
time, not exceeding 72 hours, specified in the declaration.
(3) A written public disorder declaration must be published in the
Gazette as soon as reasonably practicable after it is made.
(4) If a public disorder declaration is made orally, as soon as
reasonably practicable after it is made, it must be confirmed in
writing and the written confirmation must be published in the
(5) A public disorder declaration cannot apply in relation to Aboriginal
land as defined in section 3(1) of the Aboriginal Land Rights
(Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth).
(6) Subsection (5) limits the application of section 59A of the
Interpretation Act 1978 to this Division.
(7) The Commissioner cannot delegate the Commissioner's power
(8) If the Commissioner makes a public disorder declaration (the first
declaration), the Commissioner cannot make another declaration
(the second declaration) that applies in relation to the same, or
substantially the same, area as the first declaration unless:
(a) the first declaration has ceased to be in force for at least
7 days; or
(b) the second declaration is made in relation to public disorder of
a different nature, or arising from different circumstances, than
the public disorder specified in the first declaration.