South Australian Current Acts

[Index] [Table] [Search] [Search this Act] [Notes] [Noteup] [Previous] [Next] [Download] [Help]

SUMMARY OFFENCES ACT 1953 - SECT 72C

72C—General provisions relating to exercise of powers under section 72A or  72B

        (1)         Nothing in section 72A or  72B derogates from the power of a police officer to do anything pursuant to a general search warrant.

        (2)         The Commissioner must establish procedures to be followed by police officers in the exercise of powers under section 72A or 72B, being procedures designed to prevent, as far as reasonably practicable, any undue delay, inconvenience or embarrassment to persons being subjected to the powers.

        (3)         A police officer must ensure that any exercise of powers under section 72A or 72B does not unreasonably interfere with a person's right to participate in lawful advocacy, protest, dissent or industrial action.

        (4)         A police officer may, in exercising powers under section 72A or 72B, be assisted by such persons as the officer considers necessary or desirable in the circumstances (provided that a person who is not a police officer may only provide assistance at the direction of, and in the presence of, a police officer).

        (5)         A police officer conducting a search under section 72A or  72B may—

            (a)         enter and remain in any premises or place necessary for the purpose of conducting the search; and

            (b)         give such directions as are reasonably necessary for, or incidental to, the effective conduct of the search; and

            (c)         give such directions as are reasonably necessary to determine the nature of anything found as a result of the search.

        (6)         A police officer may only detain a person, by directions given under section 72A or  72B, for so long as is reasonably necessary to carry out a search in relation to the person and any property in the possession of the person.

        (7)         A person must not—

            (a)         hinder or obstruct a police officer, or a person accompanying a police officer, in the exercise of the powers conferred by section 72A or  72B; or

            (b)         refuse or fail to comply with a requirement made of the person, or a direction given to the person, pursuant to section 72A or  72B.

Maximum penalty: $2 500 or imprisonment for 6 months.

        (8)         For the avoidance of doubt, a search may be conducted in accordance with section 72A or  72B whether or not it would be lawful to conduct a search in accordance with any other provision of this Part.

        (9)         In any proceedings, an apparently genuine document purporting to be a certificate signed by the Commissioner and certifying that—

            (a)         a particular area was subject to an authorisation properly granted in accordance with section 72B during a period specified in the certificate; or

            (b)         a device used during a specified period to carry out metal detector searches within a specified area, or at a specified place, was a metal detector approved by the Commissioner,

constitutes proof, in the absence of proof to the contrary, of the matters so certified.



AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback