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Public Order & Security Law

Somaliland Public Order & Security Laws

Public Order and Security Law 2012

 

The new Somaliland Maintenance of the Public Order and Security Law (Xeerka Ilaalinta Anshaxa iyo Nabadgelyada Guud) - Law No. 51/2012 came into force on 7 April 2012. The Law repeals the 1963 Public Order Law - Law No 21 of 26 August 1963 but reproduces many of its provisions relating to public order. [ See here for a background article about how the 1963 Law was used, together with the 1980s legislation relating to Security Committees, see this Article.  Security committees with extra judicial powers are no longer in operation in Somaliland since July 2010 when the current President was elected and the Security Committees  under this new  2012 Law have no such powers].

 

The new Somaliland Maintenance of the Public Order and Security Law consists of a preamble and 46 articles.  A  list of the headings of all the provisions of the Law (below) should give a flavour of its wide contents. 

 

 Somaliland Maintenance of the  Public Order and Security Law Law No. 51/2012

    Came into Force:  07 April 2012 (Pres. Decree No. 0226/042012)

    Contents

    Preamble

    PART 1:  GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Article 1 Definitions

    Article 2 Title of the Law

    Article 3 Interpretation of the Law

    Article 4 Scope of the Law

    Article 5 Membership of the National Security Committees

    Article 6 Duties & powers of the National Security Committees

    Article 7 Reinforcements for the activities of the Police Force

    Article 8 Arrest of persons suspected of posing a danger to the national security

    Article 9 Other powers of the National Security Committee

    PART 2: PUBLIC ORDER AND APPROPRIATE CONDUCT 

    Article 10 Public assemblies

    Article 11 Religious ceremonies and funerals

    Article 12 Prohibition to carry weapons at public assemblies

    Article 13 Dispersal of public assemblies

    Article 14 Procedures for dispersing public assemblies

    PART 3: PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AND DISASTERS

    Article 15 Manufacture of explosives, poisons which pose dangers to the peace of the society

    Article 16 Export and Import of substances mentioned in Article 16

    Article 17 Destruction of poisons and other dangerous substances

    Article 18 Explosions of dangerous artificial fireworks

    Article 19 Fires

    Article 20 Noisy industries

    Article 21 Infringements of the provisions of this Part

    PART 4: LICENSED PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, PROFESSIONS AND COMMERCE

    Article 22 Theatrical performances and Cinemas

    Article 23 Committee for the licensing of theatrical performances and film shows

    Article 24 Sports competitions

    Article 25 Supervision of sports events and shows

    Article 26 Opening of public entertainment venues

    Article 27 Engagement of Children under 15 in films and plays

    Article 28 Inspection and supervision of public activities

    Article 29 Gambling

    Article 30 Register of hotels and rented houses

    Article 31 Infringements of the provisions of this Part.

    PART 5: PROTECTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN

    Article 32 Street Children

    Article 33 The conduct of the offspring and the responsibilities of the parents

    Article 34 Neighbourly tranquillity and the responsibilities of Akils

    PART 6: REGISTRATION OF ASSOCIATIONS AND FIRMS

    Article 35 The responsibilities of associations and firms

    Article 36 Dissolution of associations

    PART 7: MAINTENANCE OF THE SECURITY AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

    Article 37 Surety for good conduct and conditional release

    Article 38 Procedures for bonds  and for conditional release

    Article 39 Contravention of the bond conditions 

    Article 40 Prevention of criminal offences

    PART 8: PRIVATE GUARDS

    Article 41 Authorisation of private guards

    Article 42 Badges of private guards

    Article 43 Possession of the badges of  the armed Forces

    PART 9: STATE OF EMERGENCY AND STATE OF WAR

    Article 44 State of emergency

    Article 45 State of war

    PART 10: FINAL PROVISIONS

    Article 46 Regulations

    Article 47 Repeals

    Article 48 Coming into force

MORE ON THIS LAW ... to follow...

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

The 2012 Law and the Penal Code

 

This new 2012 Law is a special law dealing specifically with public order and security issues. Under Article 13 of the 1962 Penal Code states that where the provisions of two criminal penal laws cover the same issue, the provisions of the special law shall prevail over the general law.  The provisions of the more general enal Code,  includes both crimes and contraventions against the public order.  The crimes unusually carry fines and imprisonment of one to 5 years and the contraventions fines and/or prison for up to one year.  If any of these matters are also covered by the 2012 Law, the latter shall prevail. For example, under Article 31  of the 2012 Law infringements of the provisions relating to the licensing of public performances venues is punishable by 3 to 6 months imprisonment or a fine of 3 million shillings.  Article 519 to 521  of the Penal Code also deal with public performances and entertainments and in these cases unless they raise anything which is not covered by Articles 22 to 26 and 28 of the new 2012 Law, the Penal Code provisions will be superseded by the 2012 Law provisions.

 

The crimes against public order in the Penal Code  are covered in Articles 320 to 328 and are:

  • Instigation to delinquency.
  • Instigation to disobey laws.
  • Association for the purpose of committing crimes.
  • Devastation and pillage.
  • Intimidation of the public by means of explosive materials.
  • Intimidation of the public.
  • Giving false alarm to authorities.
  • Publication or circulation of false or tendentious news capable of disturbing public order.

The Contraventions against public order and public tranquillity are covered in Article 505 to 523 and are:

  • Failure to obey orders of the public authorities.
  • Refusal to give particulars of one’s identity.
  • Refusal to lend assistance in a Riot.
  • Formation of armed bodies not intended for the commission of offences.
  • Seditious Cries and cries and manifestations.
  • Seditious assembly
  • Cries or news capable of disturbing public or private tranquillity
  • Disturbing the occupations or the repose of individuals.
  • Molestation or disturbance of individuals.
  • Abusing the credulity of the public.
  • Wrongful exercise of typographical art.
  • Wrongful sale, distribution or posting of papers or drawings.
  • Destruction or defacement of posters.
  • Unauthorised or prohibited business agencies and public trading concerns.
  • Public performances or entertainments without licence.
  • Wrongful performance of acts intended for reproduction by the Cinematograph.
  • Wrongful theatrical or cinematographic performances.
  • Wrongful exercise of itinerant callings.
  • Begging.


FIREARMS LAWS

 

SEE PUBLIC SAFETY LAW PAGE  ON LAWS RELATING TO SMALL ARMS  AND MINES

 

 

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