The Police Force in N.S.W must have sufficient powers so that they are able to enforce the law properly and effectively for the safety of the community and its occupants

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N.S.W. Police Powers

The Police Force in N.S.W must have sufficient powers so that they are able to enforce the law properly and effectively for the safety of the community and its occupants.

        Powers, which provide Police to maintain and enforce the law, include: stop search powers, powers of arrest, move on powers, confiscation powers and the power to obtain personal details along with various others.

Search powers permit police officers, for example, who have reasonable cause to suspect that a person has unlawful custody of a dangerous implement, to search the person and to examine any other personal effects, the person in question has with them (Summary Offences Act section 28A). After this search police may confiscate the implement or implements in the possession of the person who has it in their unlawful custody (Summary Offences Act 28B). After this the officer may formally charge the person or proceed with a summons, now the person must divulge their name and address. They must also give details if an officer believes that the person was of any way a potential suspect or person of interest to an indictable offence where the officer, on reasonable grounds believes that the person was at or near the alleged offence when it occurred (Crimes Act section 563).

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 If police officers come across anything of an illegal nature during the use of their powers which is not what they originally, set out to find. The person maybe immediately placed under arrest. Under Crimes Act section 352, (a,b) which states that any constable or other person may arrest without a warrant if the person has violated a law whether the offence be indictable or summary in nature. The police officer then may take him and any property found on him before a authorized justice to be dealt with according to the law.          

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