Constitution

Seychelles 1993 Constitution (reviewed 2017)

Table of Contents

CHAPTER XIII. THE POLICE FORCE

159

  1. There shall be a Police Force of Seychelles.
  2. Subject to this Constitution and any other law, the Police Force shall be organized and administered in such manner as may be provided for by or under an Act.

160

  1. The Police Force shall be commanded by the Commissioner of Police who shall be appointed by the President subject to approval by the National Assembly.
  2. Nothing in this article shall be construed as precluding the assignment to a Ministry or Department of Government of responsibility for the organisation, maintenance and administration of the Police Force, but the Commissioner of Police shall be responsible for determining the use, and controlling the operations of the Force in accordance with law.
  1. The functions of the Police are-
    1. to maintain law and order in and preserve the internal security of Seychelles and any other area over which the Republic has proclaimed its jurisdiction;
    2. to prevent and detect crime in Seychelles and over any other area over which the Republic has proclaimed its jurisdiction; and
    3. to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by an Act.

CHAPTER XIV. DEFENCE FORCES

162

  1. There shall be the Defence Forces of Seychelles.
  2. The President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.
  3. Subject to this Constitution, the Defence Forces shall be organized and administered in such manner as may be provided for by or under an Act and the Act may, in particular, provide for charges of indiscipline and other offences among members of the Defence Forces to be investigated, prosecuted and punished.

163

  1. The Functions of the Defence Forces are-
    1. to defend Seychelles and any other area over which the Republic has proclaimed its jurisdiction;
    2. to assist in the fulfilment by the Republic of its international obligations;
    3. during a period of emergency, to provide assistance to civil authorities
      1. in a civil disaster; or
      2. in the restoration and maintenance of public order and security on being called out by the President,

      in Seychelles or in any other area over which the Republic has proclaimed its jurisdiction; and

    4. to perform as directed by the President functions and services of a civil nature so as to participate to maximum extent in the task of national development and improvement, in accordance with or under an Act.
  2. In this article “period of emergency” means a period of public emergency in terms of article 49.