Peace Officers Act 1925

Legislation au C1925A00012 Not in force Act

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PEACE OFFICERS.

 

No. 12 of 1925.

An Act to provide for the appointment of Peace Officers and for other purposes.

[Assented to 2nd September, 1925.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Peace Officers Act 1925.

Power to appoint Peace Officers.

2.—(1.) The Attorney-General may appoint, or may authorize the appointment of, so many Peace Officers, of such ranks or grades, as he deems necessary for the preservation of the peace throughout the Commonwealth.

(2.) Such Peace Officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Attorney-General, and shall have all such powers privileges and immunities and be liable to all such duties and responsibilities as are conferred or imposed upon them or upon any constable or other officer of police by or under any law of the Commonwealth or as are possessed by any constable or other officer of police either under the common law or by virtue of any law in force in that part of the Commonwealth in which they exercise their powers.

(3.) Peace Officers appointed in pursuance of this section shall be appointed at such remuneration as the Governor-General thinks fit, and the Consolidated Revenue Fund is to the necessary extent hereby appropriated accordingly.

Oath to be taken by Peace Officers.

3.—(1.) No person appointed to be a Peace Officer shall be capable of holding that office or of acting in any way therein until he has taken and subscribed the following oath:—

I, A.B., do swear that I will well and truly serve Our Sovereign Lord the King in the office of Peace Officer, without favour or affection, malice or ill-will, for the period of                                                                                    from this date, and until I am legally discharged, that I will seek and cause His Majesty’s peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power, all offences against the same, and that, while I continue to hold the said office, I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.


(2.) Such oath shall be administered by a Justice of the Peace, and shall in all cases be subscribed by the person taking the oath, and when so taken and subscribed shall be forwarded to the Secretary to the Attorney-General’s Department by the Justice before whom the oath was taken.

Oath equivalent to agreement.

4. Every person taking and subscribing any such oath shall be deemed to have thereby entered into a written agreement and be thereby bound to serve His Majesty as a Peace Officer from the day on which the oath has been taken and subscribed until he is legally discharged:

Provided that—

(a) No such agreement shall be set aside, cancelled or annulled for want of reciprocity; and

(b) Such agreement may be cancelled at any time by the lawful discharge, dismissal or other removal from office of any such person, or by the resignation of any such person accepted by the Attorney-General or other person having the power to appoint Peace Officers.

Penalty for personating Peace Officers.

5. Any person, not being a Peace Officer, who personates or passes himself off as a Peace Officer or wears or displays any uniform or badge of a Peace Officer, or any colorable imitation thereof, or any uniform or badge, so closely resembling any uniform or badge of a Peace Officer as to be likely to deceive, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds or imprisonment for three months.

Three months’ notice of resignation shall be given.

6.—(1.) No Peace Officer shall be at liberty to resign his office or to withdraw from the duties thereof unless expressly authorized so to do by the Attorney-General or the person thereto authorized in writing by the Attorney-General, or unless he gives to the Attorney-General or the authorized person three months’ notice in writing of his intention to so resign or withdraw.

(2.) Any Peace Officer who so resigns or withdraws without such previous permission or notice shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds or imprisonment for three months.

Powers and authorities to cease upon dismissal or resignation.

7.—(1.) When any Peace Officer is dismissed, or ceases to hold his office, all powers and authorities vested in him shall immediately cease.

(2.) Any Peace Officer so dismissed or ceasing to hold office who does not forthwith deliver over all accoutrements, clothing or other property supplied to him for the execution of such office, or in his custody by virtue thereof, to some person appointed by the Attorney-General, shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Fifty pounds or imprisonment for three months.

Power to appoint special Peace Officers.

8. The Attorney-General may, at any time and on such terms and conditions as he thinks fit, appoint, or authorize the appointment of, such special Peace Officers as are in his opinion necessary or


expedient to be appointed, and all such special Peace Officers shall, during the continuance of their appointment, be Peace Officers under this Act.

Regulations.

9. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to this Act, and in particular—

(a) for the general government and discipline of Peace Officers;

(b) providing for the protection of Peace Officers in respect of any acts done in pursuance of their duties or in obedience to instructions received by them; and

(c) prescribing penalties not exceeding Fifty pounds or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months for any contravention of any regulation.

 

Overview

The Peace Officers Act 1925 was enacted to address the need for authorised personnel to maintain peace and order throughout the Commonwealth of Australia. This Act was introduced and passed by the Parliament of Australia, with the objective of providing the Attorney-General the authority to appoint Peace Officers to serve in various ranks or grades as deemed necessary for the preservation of peace. These Peace Officers are granted powers, privileges, and immunities similar to those of constables or other police officers under Commonwealth or state laws, as well as common law. The Act also establishes an oath that Peace Officers must take before assuming their duties, and sets out penalties for impersonating a Peace Officer or resigning without proper authorisation or notice. Furthermore, the Act allows for the appointment of special Peace Officers and the creation of regulations to govern their conduct and discipline, ensuring effective enforcement of peace and order.

Scope and Application

The Peace Officers Act 1925 applies to individuals appointed by the Attorney-General to serve as Peace Officers within the Commonwealth of Australia. These officers are entrusted with the preservation of peace and are endowed with the same powers, privileges, and responsibilities as those of constables or other police officers under Commonwealth law, common law, or any applicable state law. The Act authorises the Attorney-General to determine the remuneration of these officers, who must take an oath to faithfully serve and prevent offences against the peace before assuming their duties. Peace Officers are subject to specific conditions, including a mandatory three months’ notice period for resignation and the obligation to relinquish all official property upon cessation of duties. The Act also imposes penalties for impersonating Peace Officers or failing to comply with the stipulated resignation conditions. Furthermore, the Governor-General is empowered to enact regulations to govern the conduct and discipline of Peace Officers, with penalties for regulatory breaches not exceeding fifty pounds or imprisonment for up to three months. The scope of the Act is nationwide, ensuring uniformity in the appointment and conduct of Peace Officers across the Commonwealth.

Key Provisions

The Peace Officers Act 1925 (sections 2 and 8) allows the Attorney-General to appoint Peace Officers and special Peace Officers as needed for the preservation of peace in the Commonwealth. These officers hold their positions during the pleasure of the Attorney-General and have powers, privileges, and immunities similar to those of any constable or police officer under Commonwealth law (section 2). Special Peace Officers can be appointed by the Attorney-General on terms and conditions deemed appropriate (section 8). All Peace Officers must take and subscribe an oath before a Justice of the Peace, agreeing to serve faithfully and prevent offences against the peace (sections 3 and 4). This oath binds the officer until they are legally discharged, dismissed, or resign with proper notice (section 4). The Act imposes several obligations on Peace Officers, including adherence to the terms of their appointment and the requirement to deliver all accoutrements, clothing, or other property related to their duties to an appointed person upon resignation or dismissal (sections 6 and 7). Peace Officers must also give three months’ written notice to the Attorney-General if they intend to resign or withdraw from their duties unless they have explicit permission to do otherwise (section 6). Failure to comply with these obligations can result in penalties (section 7). Breaches of the Act result in civil penalties. For instance, impersonating a Peace Officer or wearing a uniform or badge that deceives others incurs a penalty of fifty pounds or imprisonment for three months (section 5). Similarly, resigning or withdrawing without proper authorization or notice also incurs a fifty-pound fine or three months' imprisonment (section 6). Additionally, failing to surrender all accoutrements and property upon resignation or dismissal incurs the same penalty (section 7). The Governor-General can make regulations for the general governance and discipline of Peace Officers, providing for their protection and prescribing penalties for contravention of any regulation (section 9).

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.