Search and Surveillance Flashcards
What is Section 5 - The purpose of the act?
The purpose of the act is to facilitate the monitoring of compliance with the law and the investigation and prosecution of offences that is consistent with human rights by:
- Modernising the law of search
- Providing rules that recognise the importance of the rights and entitlements affirmed in other enactments
- Ensuring investigative tools are effective and adequate for law enforcement needs
How to comply with the act?
- Ensure it has a lawful authority to conduct such activities
- Conduct risk assessments when planning the use of the power
- Only seize what Police are lawfully entitled to seize
- Provide appropriate announcements and ID
- Satisfy requirements detailed in the act
What is RGTS?
Reasonable grounds to suspect is having a sound basis for suspecting that a situation or circumstance exists
Example: You have RGTS that an offence against MODA 75 has been, or is being committed, in respect of that controlled drug
What is RGTB?
Reasonable grounds to believe is having a sound basis for believing that a situation or circumstance exists
Example: You have RGTB that a person is in possession of a controlled drug
What is lawful and reasonable when it comes to searches?
A lawful search is:
- With a search warrant
- Under a warrantless search power
- With the person’s consent
A reasonable search complies with S12 of NZBOR Act and considers factors such as:
- The nature of the search
- How intrusive the search is
- Where and when the search takes place
What is practicable in the circumstances for a SW - list 4 things
- Is there time to gain approval
- Can the scene be secured
- Are reasonable resources available
- Is the evidential material at risk
- Location of the search and who may be present
Why use a search warrant?
- Ensures judicial oversight
- Provides greater protection for Police and public
- Requires recording and reporting results
Before conducting a search by consent what four reasons must you consider?
- To prevent the commission of an offence
- To investigate whether an offence has been committed
- To protect life or property
- To prevent injury or harm
Undertaking a consent search - key points
- Before conducting a consent search you must advise the reason for the proposed search and they may consent or refuse the search
- A person under 14 is unable to consent unless they are driving without an older person with authority to consent
- You do not have to report a consensual search
What is evidential material?
Evidential material in relation to an offence means evidence of the offence, or any other item , tangible or intangible that is of relevance to the investigation of the offence
What is CADD and give examples of each
Concealed - By burying or hiding items in another place or removing items
Altered - By changing or removing serial numbers from stolen property in an attempt to disguise it
Damaged - By cutting out the firewall of a stolen car to remove an identifying feature
Destroyed - By consuming food, alcohol or drugs or burning clothing
Obligations - I.I.R.N. - S131
What does I.I.R.N stand for?
Identify yourself by name or QID
Announce your intention to enter to search
State the name of the act
Give notice by providing a copy of the search warrant
BOR detained people
Obligations - I.I.R.N. - S131
Reason
If you are using a warrantless search power
you must state the reason for your search.
You must also
- Provide a copy of the search warrant or a warrantless search notice and provide an inventory
- Report your use of certain powers (S169)
- Consider privilege (S136 - 147)
Obligations - I.I.R.N. - S131
Notice
It includes more than explaining why you are doing something - it must be in writing
SW - Provide a copy
WS - State the name of the act and reason unless impracticable - use POL1275 to comply
When do you not have to comply with I.I.R.N?
When you have RGTB that no one is present or on initial entry:
- Endanger any persons safety
- Prejudice the successful use of the entry and search power
- Prejudice on-going investigation
When can you use of force?
- You may use reasonable force to enter if the person refuses entry or does not allow entry in a reasonable time
- You may use reasonable force to enter if no one is present - must give notice and inventory within 7 days
What does S110 authorise you to do? - Power to search place, vehicle or other thing
- Enter and search place, vehicle or thing
- Search any item or items found
- Use reasonable force in respect of any property
- Seize anything that is the subject
- Request assistance with entry and search
- Bring and use any equipment found
- Bring and use a trained law enforcement dog
- Copy any document
- Access a computer system
- Copy intangible material eg PC data
- Take photographs and video
What if your search is impeded? - S116
RGTB person hinders or obstructs you can:
- Exclude that person from the place, vehicle, thing
- Give any reasonable direction to that person
What are your additional powers? S116, 118, 119, 120
S116 - Secure a place, vehicle or thing and exclude any person
S118 - Detain people to determine their connection between the place and the object of the search
S119 - Search people if RGTB evidential material on them or RGTS possession of dangerous item that may pose a threat
S120 - Fresh pursuit with RGTB that relevant evidential material on that person then enter any place - apprehend person -search person or vehicle
Special rules for searching people
Any search you undertake must be conducted with decency and sensitivity, a degree of privacy and dignity that is consistent with achieving the purpose of the search
You may also seize any item that may be lawfully seized S125(1)(j)
Detained person tries to leave/ person arrives at search
If person attempts to leave - use reasonable force to detain them to be searched (S118(4))
If person arrives - under S118 you may:
- Exclude that person if you have RGTB they will hinder or obstruct
- Detain that person to determine connection between them and the object of the search
- Search the person if you have RGTB they have evidential material on them
- Search that person if you have RGTS they have dangerous item on them that poses a threat to safety
Privileged material
Holders of particular information can refuse unless the information is made, received, compiled or prepared for a dishonest purpose or aid any person to commit an offence.
Includes material gained through: Legal advisers Ministers of religion Medical practitioners Clinical psychologists Informers Journalists
NOT ACCOUNTANTS!!!
Privileged material - practical procedures
You must:
- Ensure that the person or their representative is present
- Give the person a reasonable opportunity to claim privilege
You must complete a POL268 listing all the documents seized and show this to the person to check the accuracy
If RGTB a document is privileged then you must provide an opportunity for the person to claim privilege
S21 NZBOR Act 1990
Everyone has the right to privacy in their own home and the right to refuse entry
Entering without invitation is an invasion of privacy
A valid search warrant provides legal authority to enter a person’s property, vehicle or thing to search and seize EM
Search warrant procedure
- Gain prior approval
- Gain online approval
- Gain Issuing Officer authorisation
- Plan and brief search warrant execution
- Execute search warrant
- Report outcomes
- File investigation reports
What is practicable in the circumstances when considering application for search warrant?
- Apply for a search warrant orally
- Apply for a search warrant without approaching an issuing officer in person (by phone)
- Secure a scene while you apply for a search warrant S117
Before making an online application
You must be sure there are:
- RGTS that an imprisonable offence will be, is being or has been committed
- RGTB that the search will find evidential material
Have checked the target/s for previous SW applications/outcomes
Have assessed the risks
Have obtained initial approval from a supervisor - Sgt. and above
Risk assessments
Risks must be identified, assessed and considered in planning how you execute
A Planned Action Risk Assessment and CARD prompt must be completed to cover TENR
Example:
Children - wait till school hours
Guns - use AOS
Minimise risk
Section 117
If a search warrant is about to be made or has been made and you are awaiting approval and you have RGTB that evidential material may be CADD you may:
- Enter and secure a place, vehicle or thing
- Secure any item found there
- Direct any person to assist with entry and securing place, vehicle or thing
Arrive at an address and realise the address is wrong you can enter and secure the address until warrant has been ammended.
S117 is NOT a search power.
May be exercised until:
- 6 hours has expired from when power was started
- The SW is available for execution
- The SW is refused
Who can issue a search warrant?
Issuing officers are the only people who may issue a search warrant.
An issuing officer may be a DC or a HC Judge
Or any person authorised by the Attorney General such as: Justice of the peace Community magistrate Registrar Deputy registrar
When will a search warrant be authorised?
When an IO is satisfied the SW clearly shows RGTS an imprisonable offence will be, is being or has been committed ans RGTB that the search will find evidential material. The IO must be personally satisfied.
An IO may put restrictions on a SW such as:
- Restricting the time when the search can reasonably be executed
- Requiring the occupier or person to provide reasonable assistance to the officer executing the SW
- Requiring a report on the SW within a specific time
What happens if the SW is refused?
When the IO refuses you should:
- Record the IO’s reason for refusal
- Consider the issues raised and if possible re-draft the application
- Re-submit the application to the same IO
If the issues cannot be addressed:
- Make further enquiries to support the application
- Consider whether to continue your investigation without the SW
- If the reasons for not signing the SW do not seem justified then submit a report to Legal Services
Who may execute a SW and when? How long for? When do you execute it? When is it executed? How many times?
Who - The person to whom it is directed or any constable
How long for - No more than 14 days from date of issue or no more than 30 days if you have justified why this is necessary and IO is satisfied
When executed - at any time that is reasonable in the circumstances or at a restricted time required by the IO
When is it executed - When you or anyone assisting you have seized the evidential material or leave the place and do not return within 4 hours
How many times - once unless more than one execution is applied for, you must detail the reasons for the multiple entries
Planning searches and assessing risk
Planned Action Risk Assessment and CARD prompt
Risk assessments must be on-going and in preparing a SW you must:
- Review and re-assess the identified risks
- Work with others to identify and consider any further risks
- Plan how to manage and minimise any identifies risks
- Determine how risk management will be communicated in your search warrant briefing