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Rh (4) Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person where he believes or suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the person is committing or has committed a service offence under subsection (1).

Desertion by special police officer

76.—(1) Any special police officer referred to in section 66(2)(a) or (b) who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, and all arrears of pay due to him shall be forfeited.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a person deserts if he, being on duty, or having been notified to report for duty, without leave does not attend at or leaves his place of duty in circumstances which show that he has the intention to remain permanently absent without leave or of not returning to his duty.

(3) Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person where he believes or suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the person is committing or has committed a service offence under subsection (1).

Prosecutions for disciplinary offences

77.—(1) A special police officer accused of any disciplinary offence may, instead of being dealt with under section 81 or 82, be prosecuted in court.

(2) A special police officer referred to in subsection (1) shall on conviction of a disciplinary offence be liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(3) No prosecution under this section shall be instituted without the previous sanction in writing of the Public Prosecutor.

Disciplinary proceedings after conviction

78.—(1) Where a special police officer below the rank of assistant superintendent is convicted under the provisions of any other written law of an offence, the Commissioner may, unless the conviction is set aside on appeal, and after giving the officer a reasonable opportunity to be heard—
 * (a) reduce the special police officer in rank, grade or seniority; or
 * (b) dismiss the special police officer from the Special Constabulary if he is a volunteer.