(1)  A person who, otherwise than under a contract for services, contract of service or training contract with the Secretary of the responsible Department in relation to the Police Service Act 2003 , performs police operations with the consent of, under the authority of, or in co-operation with, the Secretary of that responsible Department is, while so engaged, taken to be a worker employed by the Crown.

(2)  For the purpose of assessing the compensation payable to or in respect of a person to whom subsection (1) applies, the normal weekly earnings of that person are –

(a) if the person was working under a contract of service with any person immediately before assisting the police officer, to be computed according to the person's earnings under that contract; and

(b) if the person was not working under a contract of service immediately before assisting the police officer, to be the basic salary.

(3)  For the purposes of subsection (1) , police operations means –

(a) marine search and rescue operations within the meaning of the Marine Search and Rescue Act 1971 ; and

(b) operations required for the purpose of searching for or bringing to safety –

(i) persons in danger in the State; or

(ii) persons in need of assistance as a result of a casualty occurring in the State; or

(iii) persons suffering from illness or injury in the State who require assistance that is not immediately available to them; and

(c) operations required for the purpose of protecting property in the State.