Book excerpt: The purpose of this code is to guide officers in relation to the exercise of certain powers, and should not be regarded as a complete or authoritative statement of the law. Only the courts can give an authoritative interpretation of the legislation, and the contents of this code may be affected by subsequent judicial decisions and changes to the legislative provisions referred to. Where an officer fails to comply with any provision of this code, they would not by reason only of that failure be liable to any criminal or civil proceedings, but the code is admissible as evidence in such proceedings. A court may take account of any failure to comply with the code in determining any question(s) in the proceedings.