Persons

Question 1

Section 16 (Serious offence)

Answer 1

You may search a person for evidential material in a public place where you reasonably believe that the
person has evidential material relating to an offence with a maximum penalty of 14 years or more.

Question 2

Section 18 (Arms)

Answer 2

You may search a person, anything in their possession, enter a place or vehicle to search the person or
anything in their possession and seize and detain any arms found as well as their firearms licence. You must
reasonably suspect that the person is carrying or in possession of arms and the person is:
Breaching the Arms Act 1983, or
Incapable by their physical or mental condition of having proper control of the arms, or
Possibly going to kill or cause bodily injury to any person because of their physical or mental condition,
or
The respondent in an active protection order, or
The potential respondent where there are grounds for an application for a protection order against them,
or
The bound person in an active police safety order.

Question 3

Section 21 (People in places/vehicles where s20 applies)

Answer 3

You may search any person found in or on the place or vehicle if you are searching a place or vehicle under
Section 20.

Question 4

Section 22 (Drugs on person)

Answer 4

You may search a person for controlled drugs or precursor substances if you reasonably believe they
are in possession of them and you reasonably suspect they have, are or soon will commit an oence against
the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975.

Question 5

Section 27 (Offensive Weapon)

Answer 5

You may search a person for offensive weapons if they’re in a public place and you reasonably suspect they
are committing an offence against s202A(4)(a) of the Crimes Act 1961.