Section 47C — Crimes Act 1914: Permitting escape

(1) A person (the first person) commits an offence if: (a) the first person is: (i) an officer of a prison, lock-up or other place of criminal detention; or (ii) a constable; or (iii) a Commonwealth officer; and (b) the first person is charged for the time being with the criminal detention of another person (the prisoner); and (c) the first person intentionally or negligently permits the prisoner to escape from the detention; and (d) the detention is lawful federal criminal detention. Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years. (2) Absolute liability applies to the paragraph (1)(d) element of the offence. Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2 of the Criminal Code.