Section 245: Homicide and wounds and blows under lawful authority
This section is inserted by The Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2025, section 3.
consolidated text (as at 2016, amended since). juris shows the text as it was consolidated; it does not confirm that this is the law in force today.
245. Homicide and wounds and blows under lawful authority
There is neither crime, nor misdemeanour, where homicide is, or wounds or blows
are, committed as a result of the use, to such extent and in such circumstances as are
permitted by law, of such force as is reasonably justifiable –
(a) for the defence of any person from violence or for the defence of property;
(b) in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully
detained;
(c) for the purpose of suppressing a riot, insurrection or mutiny; or
(d) in order to prevent the commission by that person of a criminal offence or
if he dies as the result of a lawful act of war.
Passed by the National Assembly on the thirteenth day of May two thousand and
twenty five.
Navin Gopall
Acting Clerk of the National Assembly
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Questions this section answers
- When can I lawfully use force against someone without it being a crime, such as defending myself or my property?
- Can force be lawfully used to arrest someone or stop them escaping custody?
- Can the police lawfully use force to break up a riot or mutiny?