Interpretation

In this Part and Part 1B, unless the context otherwise requires8 “adult” means a person of the age of eighteen years or above; CAP. 143. “ammunition” has the meaning assigned to it in the Firearms Act; “benefit” includes any money or other property, service or advantage; “bullet-proof vest” means a vest or article of covering that is capable of providing or intended to provide protection from the penetration of bullets or similar projectiles; “child” means a person under the age of eighteen years; “Court” means a Magistrate’s Court or the Supreme Court; “criminal activity” means the planned, on-going, continuous or repeated participation or involvement in any serious offence; “document” means, in addition to a document in writing, anything in which information of any description is recorded; “firearm” has the meaning assigned to it in the Firearms Act; CAP. 143. “gang” means an organization, association, combination or other arrangement consisting of three or more persons whether formally or informally organized, that commits, or has as one of its objects or purposes the commission or facilitating the commission of, a serious offence; “gang leader” means a person who knowingly initiates, organizes, plans, finances, directs, manages or supervises a gang-related activity; Crime Control and Criminal Justice[CAP. 102 9 “gang member” means a person (including a gang leader) who belongs to a gang, or a person who knowingly acts in the capacity of an agent for or an accessory to, or voluntarily associates himself with any gang-related activity, whether in a preparatory, executory or concealment phase of any such activity, or a person who knowingly performs, aids, or abets any such activity; “gang-related activity” means any criminal activity or any enterprise, pursuit or undertaking in relation to a serious offence, acquiesced in, or consented or agreed to, or directed, ordered, authorized, requested or ratified by any “harbour” means giving refuge or shelter to another person and encouraging or supporting, whether tacitly or explicitly, that person in committing any gang-related “law enforcement authority” includes– (a) the Belize Police Department established CAP. 138. under the Police Act; (b) the Customs and Excise Department CAP. 48. established under the Customs and Excise Duties Act; (c) the Income Tax Department established CAP. 55. under the Income and Business Tax Act; (d) the Belize Defence Force established CAP. 135. under the Defence Act; (e) the Coast Guard established under the CAP. 131:01. Coast Guard Act and; 10 (f) any other agency of the State in which investigative powers, similar to those exercisable by a police officer appointed under the Police Act, are lawfully vested; and CAP. 138. (g) any category of persons so prescribed by the Minister by order published in the Gazette; “Minister” means the Minister responsible for the Belize Police Department; “premises”, in relation to a school, includes– (a) any building, playing field or other premises established or maintained for the benefit of the students of a school whether or not the building, playing field or other premises are within the grounds of the school; and (b) any premises for the time being used for the keeping of a school; “recruit” includes to counsel, procure, lure, solicit, incite, induce or coerce; “school” means an institution recognized by the Ministry responsible for education as providing schooling or education and training primarily for children; including an institution that provides pre-school, primary, secondary education, within the meaning of the Education and Training Act; CAP. 36:01. “serious offence” means an offence specified in the Crime Control and Criminal Justice[CAP. 102 11