The Main Study Flashcards
Purpose of the S and S Act (Section 5)
- Modernise the law of search, seizure and surveillance to take into account advances in technologies and to regulate the use of those technologies
- Provide rules that recognise the importance of the rights and entitlements affirmed in other enactments
- Ensure investigative tools are effective/adequate for law enforcement needs
How to comply with objectives and obligations?
- Ensure that it has a lawful authority to conduct such activities and exercise any other incidental power in relation to those activities including use of force
- Conduct risk assessments when planning the exercise of those powers and take actions to mitigate risks to protect the safety of the public and employee carrying out the act’s powers
- Only seize what police are lawfully entitled to seize
- Provide appropriate announcements and identification in the exercise of those powers
- Satisfy requirements detailed in the act e.g notice and inventory requirements after search or seizure
RGTB v RGTS
Reasonable grounds to suspect (RGTS) - having a sound basis for suspecting a situation or circumstance exists e.g enter because you suspect an offence has been, is being, or about to be committed
Reasonable grounds to believe (RGTB) - having a sound basis for believing that a situation or circumstance exists e.g you enter and search as believe you will find evidential material
When reasonable grounds are formed you must
- Record your reasonable grounds for using a search power in your notebook
- Be aware you may be required to report on your decision to use a power and grounds for using it and justify your use of a power in court or in other formal proceedings
What is a lawful search?
- With a search warrant or
- Under a warrantless search power
- With the person’s consent
Reasonable search
Complies with section 21 of the NZ BOR and consider factors such as
1) The nature of the search
2) How intrusive the search is
3) Where and when the search takes place
Considerations for practicality for search
- Is there time to gain approval and apply for a search warrant
- Can the scene be secured under sl17?
- Are reasonable resources (including number of staff) available to minimise risk and ensure safety
- Is the evidential material at risk
- Location of the search and who may be present
- If not practicable to apply for a SW search by warrantless power or by consent
Why use a search warrant
- Ensures judicial oversight
- Provides greater protection for police and the public
- Requires recording and reporting of results
Search by consent
- To prevent the commission of an offence
- To investigate whether an offence has been committed
- To protect life or property
- To prevent injury or ham
- Under section 92 one or more of these situations must exist to justify consent search
What to advise for consent
- Of the reason for the proposed search and
- They may consent or refuse to consent to the search
Evidential material
Evidential material in relation to an offence or a suspected offence, means evidence of the offence or any other item tangible or intangible of relevance to the investigation of the offence
Tangible v intangible CADD
- Tangible means something that can be touched
- Means unable to be touched not having physical presence
- S97 examples of intangible email address, access info, internet data storage
- Concealed, altered, damaged or destroyed
Section 131 obligations
- Identification, intention, reason, notice requirements where before initial entry you must Identify yourself by name or by unique identifier QID
- Announce your intention to enter and search
- State the name of the act
- Give notice by providing a copy of the search warrant
- Remember that when you have detained a person for the purpose of a search you must caution them (bill of rights)
Section 131 obligations reason
You must state the reason for your search and provide;
- A copy of the search warrant or a warrantless search notice to occupier
- Provide inventory of items seized
- Report your use of certain powers s169
Section 131 obligations reason
You must state the reason for your search and provide;
- A copy of the search warrant or a warrantless search notice to occupier
- Provide inventory of items seized
- Report your use of certain powers s169
Section 110 authorise you to
- Enter and search the place, vehicle or other thing that you are authorised to enter and search
- Search any 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 that 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, part of a document, that may be lawfully seized
- Access to a computer system or other data storage
- Copy intangible material example computer data
- Take photographs sound and video recordings and drawings
Section 116
If a search is impeded by any person of if RGTB that person would obstruct or hinder ability to search then you can use section 116 to
- Exclude that person from the place, vehicle or other thing that is being searched or any area in or on the place or vehicle
- Give any reasonable direction to that person
- You can secure a place, vehicle or other thing to be searched and exclude any person from there
Section 118
You can detain people when searching places and vehicles for the purpose 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
Section 119
- You can search people found when searching places and vehicles if you have RGTB that evidential material that is the object of the search is on that person or
- If 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
Section 120
If you are in fresh pursuit and with RGTB that relevant evidential is still on the person, you have the power to enter any place to apprehend the person and search the person or vehicle
Section 121
Provides the power to stop a vehicle if you intend to search it and have authority to search the vehicle by
- Executing search warrant
- Using a warrantless power
Section 122
Moving vehicles for search/safe keeping
Section 123
You may seize any item you find in plain view, when searching or you observe if:
• You have RGTB that you could have seized the item under a search warrant or other search power.
Section 112
Items of uncertain status may be seized
Section 125
Rules for searching people
- Under S125(1)(i) you can search any item that the person is wearing, carrying, has in their physical possession or immediate control
- Any search undertaken must be conducted decency and sensitivity.
- S125(2)(J) you can seize any item person wearing, carrying, or in immediate possession if that is the item you are searching for. You may also seize any item that may be lawfully seized even if not subject of search. Remembering to promptly provide an inventory on a s268
Section 127
- Allows you to enter any place
- To locate the vehicle to execute the search warrant if
- You have RGTB that the vehicle is there
Privileged material
Privilege allows holders of particular information to refuse to disclose this info.
The info is recognised as privileged. No privilege applies if the info is made, received, compiled or prepared for a dishonest purpose or to enable or aid any person to commit an offence.
Recognised privileged material
- Legal advisers
- Ministers of religion
- Medical practitioners
- Clinical psychologists
- Informer
- Journalists
Search warrant process - 7 steps
- Gain prior approval
- Gain online approval
- Gain issuing officer authorisation
- Plan and brief search warrant execution
- Execution
- Report outcomes
- File investigation records
Alternative methods for search warrant application
- Apply for a search warrant orally
- Apply for a search warrant without approaching an issuing officer in person (by using the phone)
- Secure a scene while you apply for a search warrant for a maximum period of 6 hours (s117)
Before application of search warrant
- Be sure that there are 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, or other thing or facility
- Have checked the target/history NIA for other search warrant applications/outcomes
- Have assessed the risk associated with executing the search warrant
- Have obtained initial approval from a supervisor at or above sergeant to proceed with online application
Search warrant risk assessment
- Must be identified
- Assessed
- Considered in planning how you execute the search warrant
Section 117
- Enter and secure a place, vehicle or other thing
- Secure any items found there
- Direct any person to assist with entry and securing the place or vehicle or items in it
- Is not a search power
- Expiry of 6 hours from when it is excersised
- Warrant is available for execution at that place or vehicle in respect of that other thing
- The application for a search warrant is refused
Who can issue a warrant
- District court judge
- High court judge
- Authorised by attorney general
- JP
- Community magistrate
- Registrar
- Deputy registrar
- RGTS offence has been, will be or is about to be committed
- RGTB that the search will find evidential material in respect of the offence in the place, vehicle or other thing
Issuing officer restrictions on search warrant including
- Restricting the time when the search warrant can reasonably be executed
- Requiring the occupier or person in charge of a place to provide reasonable assistance to the officer executing the search warrant
- Requiring a report on the search warrant within a time
When a warrant application refused you should
- Record the issuing officers reasons for refusing to sign
- Consider the issues raised and if possible re-draft the application, ensuring you have addressed these issues
- Re-submit Appln to same Issuing Officer
8b if the issues cannot be addressed
• Make further enquiries to support the Appln
• Consider continuing your investigation without conducting a search
• If the reasons for not signing SW don’t seem justified, submit a report to Legal Service
Who can execute a warrant how long is it valid for?
A person to who directed or any constable
When can a search warrant be executed and when its considered to be executed?
At any time reasonable in the circumstances or at a restricted time required by the issuing officer as a condition of execution
When can a search warrant be executed and when its considered to be executed?
At any time reasonable in the circumstances or at a restricted time required by the issuing officer as a condition of execution