NCJ Number
143358
Date Published
1993
Length
321 pages
Annotation
This two-volume review of police powers in Queensland, Australia, provides an overview of police powers in Queensland and then examines the police powers of entry, search, and seizure prior to arrest.
Abstract
The first volume profiles the review process undertaken by the Criminal Justice Commission and describes similar reviews by committees and commissions in other jurisdictions. It also discusses the nature of police powers and their relationship to police effectiveness, along with various concepts and definitions that often arise in discussing police powers. The first volume raises the issue of consolidating into one piece of legislation police powers that extend across a number of different acts. The report includes a comprehensive list of those powers that are currently conferred on police. The final chapter of the first volume addresses the prospect of a scheme of consolidation of police powers, as it outlines the difficulties of such an endeavor and proposes a scheme of partial consolidation. In addressing entry, search, and seizure prior to arrest, the second volume discusses matters that relate to the stopping and searching of persons, the issue and execution of search warrants, and other issues within this broad subject area. The Commission recommends a number of changes to and clarification of the law relating to entry, search, and seizure. The recommendations reflect two broad principles upon which the Commission proceeded. First, police powers should only be increased where the need to do so has been demonstrated; secondly, increased accountability should accompany any increase in police powers. Appended charts of legislation related to police powers in Queensland