People who cannot produce a permit, licence, certificate or other legal authorisation when asked by police could face fines of up to $500, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both, under a new offence contained in the proposed Police Bill 2026.
The measure appears in Clause 122 of the Bill, which gives police officers the power to stop and detain any person whom they see engaging in an activity that requires authorisation under any law and to request proof that the activity is legally permitted. “A Police officer may stop and detain any person whom he or she sees doing an act for which a form of authorisation is required under the provisions of any law,” the Bill reads.
If an individual cannot produce the required authorisation when requested, the proposed legislation allows police to arrest that person without a warrant. The Bill, however, also sets out an alternative. An officer may accept the person’s personal details in lieu of immediate arrest if satisfied that the individual will respond to any future summons or legal proceedings, effectively permitting on-the-spot verification and follow-up rather than automatic detention in every case.
Separately, the Bill creates a specific criminal offence for failing to comply with a police request to produce authorisation. A conviction would expose an individual to a maximum fine of $500, up to 12 months behind bars, or both — penalties that apply across any situation where a form of legal authorisation is required.
The provision is part of a wider package in the Police Bill 2026 intended to modernise police powers and clarify procedures relating to law enforcement and public compliance. The government has signalled that the Bill will undergo public consultations shortly, giving organisations and members of the public the opportunity to review and respond to the proposed changes before they are finalised.
The clause is likely to have practical implications for a wide range of activities that require permits or licences — from street vending and fundraising to regulated commercial operations — by formalising police authority to demand proof of legal authorisation and by creating penalties for non-compliance. With consultations looming, stakeholders will have the chance to raise concerns about enforcement, safeguards and how alternative compliance measures will operate in practice. This is the latest development in the Bill’s progression toward wider public scrutiny and possible amendment.