You do not have to be detained to lose your freedom of movement under the State of Emergency. Police can issue confinement orders to people linked to ongoing investigations, while minors face a curfew and gatherings of three or more people are prohibited in the affected areas.
Bart Jones
Bart Jones, Deputy Commissioner of Police
“In respect to public concern to curfew in the affected areas, the curfew is only restricted to minors, and a minor is anybody below the age of eighteen, unaccompanied by adults. That is in respect to curfew. There is some provisions in there as well that speaks to loitering and public drinking which is the law already generally and also assembling in groups of three or more people once you are in that particular area. So, it makes it unlawful to be gathered three or more person in certain public spaces. One may wonder why that is included. You have been covering the news and many instances that we have reported on would have been where people were socializing and a motorcycle drives up and somebody rides up and fires a shot. So that is the only, and while that provision is there the police will be restrictive with how we deal with that, it is more about discouraging rather than arresting anybody in respect to those. Of course, where in the particular area and there is a wake, a church service and some lawful public event, maybe a sporting activity, we will not stop those from happening. We are looking at those who may be gathering in groups, and we reasonably believe they are out to some mischief or they may be targeted for actions by others.”
Jones noted that a review tribunal is being installed to ensure that continued detentions under the SOE are vetted in accordance with the law.
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