South Australian Current Acts

SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT 1953 - SECT 67

67—General search warrants

        (1)         Despite any law or custom to the contrary, the Commissioner may issue general search warrants to such police officers as the Commissioner thinks fit.

        (2)         Every such warrant must be in the form in Schedule 1, or in a form to the same effect, and must be signed by the Commissioner.

        (3)         Every such warrant will, subject to prior revocation by the Commissioner, remain in force for six months from the date of the warrant, or for a shorter period specified in the warrant.

        (4)         The police officer named in any such warrant may, at any time of the day or night, exercise all or any of the following powers:

            (a)         the officer may, with such assistants as he or she thinks necessary, enter into, break open and search any house, building, premises or place where he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that—

                  (i)         an offence has been recently committed, or is about to be committed; or

                  (ii)         there are stolen goods; or

                  (iii)         there is anything that may afford evidence as to the commission of an offence; or

                  (iv)         there is anything that may be intended to be used for the purpose of committing an offence;

            (b)         the officer may break open and search any cupboards, drawers, chests, trunks, boxes, packages or other things, whether fixtures or not, in which he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that—

                  (i)         there are stolen goods; or

                  (ii)         there is anything that may afford evidence as to the commission of an offence; or

                  (iii)         there is anything that may be intended to be used for the purpose of committing an offence;

            (c)         the officer may seize any such goods or things to be dealt with according to law.