Search & Surveillance Flashcards
What is a Lawful Search
A search that is conducted:
- With a search warrant
- Under a warrantless search power
- With the person’s consent
What is a Reasonable Search
A search that….
Complies with S21 of the NZ Bill of Rights Act and considers factors such as:
- The nature of the search
- How intrusive the search is
- Where and when the search takes place
What must be Considered when you have RGTB that it is impractical to obtain a search warrant
- Is there time to gain approval and apply for a search warrant
- Can the scene be secured under Section 117
- Are reasonable resources available (including staff) to minimise risk and ensure safety
- Is the evidence 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 the public
- Requires recording and reporting of results
What Options Do You Have to Search
- Search warrant
- Search using warrantless power
- Search by consent
Before Conducting a Search by Consent you MUST determine that the search is for one of the following reasons……..
- 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
Section 92
What must you advise the person of before conducting a search by consent
- The reason for the proposed search AND…
2. They may consent or refuse to the search
Can a person under 14yrs consent to the search of a place, vehicle or other thing
No
Unless……they are found driving with no passenger of or over 14yrs with authority to consent to the vehicles search.
Is there a requirement to report a consent search
No
What is a tangible item
Something that may be touched
What is an intangible item
Means unable to be touched; not having physical presence
What does CADD stand for
Concealed
Altered
Damaged
Destroyed
Must have RGTB
Name and example of each CADD
Concealed
- burying or hiding items in another place or removing items
Altered
- changing or removing serial numbers from stolen property in an attempt to disguise it
Damaged
- cutting out the firewall of a stolen car to remove an identifying feature
Destroyed
- consuming food, alcohol or drugs, burning clothing
What are obligations in the context of Search and Surveillance Act
Actions that must be carried out when certain powers are used
What section of the Search and Surveillance Act sets out your obligatoins
Section 131
What do your obligations cover
Identification
Intention
Reason
Notice
- ID yourself by name or QID
- announce your intention to enter and search
- state the name of the act
- give notice by providing a copy of the search warrant
- caution (BOR) persons detained for the purpose of a search
Obligation Reasons
If using a warrantless search power you must state the reason for your search and…..
- provide a copy of the search warrant or a warrantless search notice to occupier and provide inventory of items seized
- report your use of certain powers (S169)
- consider privilege (S136 - 147)
Obligation Notice
Giving notice is more than just telling or explaining to a person what you are about to do and why.
It includes giving written notice by way of
IF EXECUTION A SEARCH WARRANT
• provide a copy of the search warrant
IF USING A WARRANTLESS SEARCH POWER
• state the name of the enactment under which the search is taking place and the reason for the search (unless impractical to do so)
• use the POL1275 search notice to occupier to comply with this obligation
When do you not have to comply with your obligations
- RGTB no one is present
- Endanger any person’s safety
- prejudice the successful use of the entry and search power
- prejudice on-going investigations
What must be provided if the occupier is not present at the time of the search
- Copy of the search warrant
- Copy of the POL1275 search notice to occupier
- Inventory of any material seized (POL268)
Must be provided as soon as possible after the search and within 7 days of completion of the search
What does section 110 authorise you to do
- Enter and search the place, vehicle or other thing that you are authorised to search
- Search any item or items found in that place, vehicle or thing (if reasonable)
- Use reasonable force in respect of any property for the purpose of carrying out the search and lawful seizure
- Seize anything that is the subject of the search or anything else tat may be lawfully seized
- Request assistance with entry and search
- bring and use any equipment found on the place, vehicle or other thing
- bring and use a trained law enforcement dog and its handler
- copy any document, or part of a document that may be lawfully seized
- Access a computer system or other data storage device
- Copy intangible material eg. computer data
- Take photographs, sound and video recordings and drawings
What does section 116 allow
To SECURE a place, vehicle, or other thing to be searched and EXCLUDE any person from there
What does section 118 allow
To DETAIN PEOPLE when searching places and vehicles for the purposes of determining whether there is any connection between a person at the place or in or on the vehicle and the object of the search
What does section 119 allow
To SEARCH PEOPLE found when searching places and vehicles if you have RGTB that evidential material that is is the object of the search is on that person
or
You have RGTS that the person is in possession of a dangerous item that poses a threat to safety and you believe that immediate action is needed to address that threat
What does section 120 allow
If you are in FRESH PURSUIT and RGTB that relevant evidential material is still on the person, you have the power to ENTER any place to APPREHEND the person and SEARCH the person or vehicle
AWOCA
A - ask the person to comply with your search
W - why, give reasons for your actions
O - options, allow search or arrest for obstruction
C - confirm that the person understands the options
A - action, arrest for obstruction
What are the special rules for searching people
- you can search any item the person is wearing, carrying, has in their physical possession or immediate control
- you can seize any item that the person is wearing carrying or is in their immediate possession if that is the item you are searching for
- you may seize any item that may be lawfully seized even if it was not the subject of your search.
If someone else arrives at the place or vehicle and starts talking to the person you have detained under section 118 depending on the circumstances you may…..
EXCLUDE that person from the search scene if you have RGTB the person will obstruct/hinder your powers
DETAIN that person to determine if there is any connection between them and the object of your search
SEARCH that person if you have RGTB that they may have evidential material on them
SEARCH that person if you have RGTS that they may have a dangerous item that poses a threat to safety and you believe you need to act immediately to address that threat
What is privileged material
Privilege allows the holders of particular information to refuse to disclose this information. This information is recognised as “privileged” under the search and surveillance act
No privilege applies if the information is made, received, compiled or prepared for a dishonest purpose or to enable or aid any person to commit an offence
Privileged material includes material gained through communication with who
- legal advisers
- ministers of religion
- medical practitioners
- clinical psychologists
- informers
- journalists
What set procedures must you follow when a search involves privileged material held by a specific person
- ensure that the person or their representative is present when the search is undertaken
- give the person a reasonable opportunity to claim privilege
What are the key steps in the search warrant process
- gain prior approval
- gain online approval
- gain issuing officer approval
- plan and brief search warrant execution
- execute search warrant
- report outcomes
- file investigation records
What are the other options for applying for a 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 for a maximum period of 6hrs
Should be considered as exceptions and not used unless other means are not practically available.
May help manage time required to apply for a warrant where there is risk of loss of evidential material
What must you do if you make an oral application for a search warrant
Make an online application in the search and surveillance system as soon as possible and back-capture the required information
What must be done before making an application for a search warrant
- RGTS an offence punishable by imprisonment has been, will be, is being, or is about to be committed AND
RGTB that the search will find evidential material in respect of the offence in the place, vehicle, other thing or facility - CHECKED THE TARGETS history in NIA for other search warrant applications/outcome
- ASSESSED THE RISKS associated with executing the search warrant
- Obtained INITIAL APPROVAL from a supervisor at or above the rank of sergeant to proceed with the online application
When must risks be assessed in relation to search warrants
before making the application and again before a search warrant is executed