Australian Capital Territory Current Acts Australian Capital Territory Current Acts(1) Subject to this section, if a person arrested for an offence is brought to a police station, a police officer may conduct a strip search of the person.
(2) A strip search may be conducted if—
(a) a police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the person has in his or her possession—
(i) evidential material in relation to that or another offence; or
(ii) a seizable item; or
(b) the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a visual inspection of the person's body will provide evidence of the person's involvement in an offence;
and—
(c) the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to conduct a strip search of the person to recover that thing or to discover that evidence; and
(d) a police officer of the rank of superintendent or higher has approved the conduct of the search.
(3) Subject to section 228, a strip search may also be conducted if the person consents in writing.
(4) Subject to section 228, a strip search may be conducted in the presence of a medical practitioner who may assist in the search.
(5) The approval may be obtained by telephone, fax or other electronic means.
(6) A police officer who gives or refuses to give an approval under subsection (2) (d) shall make a record of the decision and of the reasons for the decision.
(7) The force that is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances may be used to conduct a strip search under subsection (2).
(8) Any item of a kind referred to in subsection (2) (a) that is found during a strip search may be seized.