00:00And the new Special Operations Bill is proposing closed zones within designated policing districts with requirement for permits for movement
00:09in and out of those areas.
00:12Jule Brown reports.
00:13The Special Operations Bill 2026, introduced in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, does not include the term zone of
00:20special operations like the previous bill.
00:23Instead, the new bill proposes seven policing districts and stipulates that the President may by order, subject to negative resolution
00:31of the House of Representatives, declare any area within a district to be a closed area.
00:36The bill says this is where the President is satisfied on reasonable grounds that public safety and peace in that
00:43area is threatened by escalating levels of violent crime, homicide, shootings, kidnappings or gang-related activity in that area.
00:51Other reasonable grounds include the prevalence of illegal firearms or ammunition or the unlawful presence of other weapons or explosives
00:59in that area.
01:01The bill states that within seven days of the making of an order, the President shall deliver to the Speaker
01:07for presentation to the House of Representatives a statement setting out the specific grounds on which the decision to make
01:14the order was based.
01:15There is a provision that a resolution to annul an order may be passed by the House of Representatives at
01:21any time while the order is in force and motions for such a resolution shall not be brought within three
01:28months of each other.
01:29The new bill proposes that a head of special operations shall be a police officer designated by the police commissioner,
01:36not below the rank of superintendent, unless an objection is received from the Prime Minister after consultation with the Homeland
01:44Security Minister, the Minister with Responsibility for Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.
01:49The support of the Defence Force must be requested by the police commissioner and once this occurs, the Chief of
01:55Defence Staff shall consult with the Prime Minister before designating an officer not below the rank of major to be
02:02the head of military assistance.
02:03The Special Operations Bill proposes that a head of special operations may cause a closed area within a police district
02:12to be closed by means of barriers, roadblocks or otherwise.
02:17Clause 12 states no person shall enter or leave a closed area without a permit, with exemptions for several top
02:24office holders, including the President, the Prime Minister, members of Cabinet, members of Parliament, members of the THA and municipal
02:32corporations,
02:33the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice, the Police Commissioner, the Chief of Defence Staff or Police Officer or a member
02:39of the Defence Force when on duty or proceeding to or from duty.
02:43The bill stipulates that the Police Commissioner may, in relation to a closed area and in relation to a curfew,
02:50issue a permit by notice published in the Gazette granting permission for persons of any class or category specified in
02:56the notice to enter or leave the closed area during such times
03:00and subject to conditions or restrictions as are specified in the notice.
03:06Debate of the Special Operations Bill begins in the House of Representatives on Friday.
03:11Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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