Public Order and Security Act [Chapter 11:17] as amended at 1st July, 2006 (3) If a police officer of or above the rank of inspector considers it reasonably necessary in the interests of public safety, public order or public health to exercise without warrant the powers referred to in subsection (2) in respect of aircraft, aerodromes or airstrips and persons in or upon such aircraft, aerodromes or airstrips anywhere in Zimbabwe, he may, subject to subsection (4), authorise the presence of any police officer at such aerodrome or airstrip and thereupon such powers may be so exercised. (4) Subject to subsection (5), no police officer shall, for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3), be authorised to remain at an aerodrome or airstrip for more than forty-eight hours at a time without the consent of the Civil Aviation Authority referred to in section four of the Civil Aviation Act [Chapter 13:16] or the owner of the aerodrome or airstrip, as the case may be. (5) If the Minister is of the opinion that it is desirable in the interests of defence, public safety, public order or public health to do so, he may, by notice in a statutory instrument, declare that during such period as may be specified in such notice, police officers may, without warrant, exercise the powers referred to in subsection (2) or (3) in respect of aircraft, aerodromes or airstrips and persons in or upon such aircraft, aerodromes or airstrips anywhere in Zimbabwe, and for that purpose to remain at an aerodrome or airstrip for more than fortyeight hours at a time without the consent of the Civil Aviation Authority referred to in section four of the Civil Aviation Act [Chapter 13:16] or the owner of the aerodrome or airstrip, as the case may be. (6) Any person who hinders or obstructs any police officer in the exercise of his powers in terms of this section or takes any measures to prevent an aerodrome, airstrip or aircraft or any person in or upon such aircraft being searched in terms of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level six or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. PART VI GENERAL 36 … [Repealed by section 282 of Criminal Law Code]6 37 When Defence Forces may assist Police Force under this Act (1) If, upon a request made by the Commissioner of Police, the Minister is satisfied that any regulating authority requires the assistance of the Defence Forces for the purpose of suppressing any civil commotion or disturbance in any police district, he may request the Minister responsible for defence to authorise the Defence Forces to assist the police in the exercise of their functions under this Act in the police district concerned. (2) Where authority is given under subsection (1) for the Defence Forces to assist the police— 6 This section required the authority of the Attorney-General for the prosecution of certain offences under this Act. Those offences having been removed from this Act and transferred to the Code, section 34 of the Code similarly requires the Attorney-General's authority for prosecution of most offences under Chapter III ("Crimes Against the State") of the Code. - 13 -