Absence without leave
36.—(1)  A police officer who is absent without leave shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both, and to any other punishment authorised by this Act, and all arrears of emoluments due to him or her shall be forfeited.
[10/2015]
(2)  Any police officer is absent without leave if the police officer —
(a)without authority leaves his or her place of duty;
(b)without authority is absent from his or her place of duty;
(c)having been authorised to be absent from his or her place of duty, fails to return to his or her place of duty at the end of the period for which his or her absence was authorised; or
(d)having been notified to report for duty, fails to report to his or her place of duty without lawful excuse.
(3)  It is a defence for any person charged with an offence under this section to prove that his or her absence was a result of circumstances over which he or she had no control.
(4)  Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person where the police officer believes or suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the person is committing or has committed a service offence under subsection (1).