LAW ENFORCEMENT (POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES) ACT 2002 - SECT 75A Operation of electronic and other equipment at premises and removal of things from premises for examination

LAW ENFORCEMENT (POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES) ACT 2002 - SECT 75A

75A Operation of electronic and other equipment at premises and removal of things from premises for examination

(1) A person executing or assisting in the execution of a warrant to which this Division applies may--

(a) bring to the premises the subject of the warrant any electronic and other equipment reasonably necessary for the examination of a thing found at the premises, and

(b) operate any such equipment (or equipment already at those premises) to examine a thing found at the premises in order to determine whether it is or contains a thing that may be seized under the warrant, and

(c) move a thing found at the premises to another place (for up to 7 working days) for examination in order to determine whether it is or contains a thing that may be seized under the warrant if the occupier of the premises consents or if--

(i) it is significantly more practicable to do so having regard to the timeliness and cost of examining the thing at another place and the availability of expert assistance, and

(ii) there are reasonable grounds to suspect it is or contains a thing that may be seized under the warrant.

(2) If a thing is moved to another place for examination under this section, an eligible issuing officer may authorise the removal of the thing for an additional period (not exceeding 7 working days at any one time) if satisfied that the additional period is required to determine whether it is or contains a thing that may be seized under the warrant.

(3) The person executing the warrant must advise the occupier that the occupier may make submissions to the eligible issuing officer on the matter and is to give the occupier a reasonable opportunity to do so (except in the case of a covert search warrant).

(4) The eligible issuing officer may authorise the removal of a thing for a period exceeding a total of 28 days only if satisfied that it is justified on the basis that there are exceptional circumstances in the case.

(5) The limitation imposed by this section on the period that a thing may be removed to another place ceases when it is determined that it is or contains a thing that may be seized under the warrant.

(6) This section does not authorise the operation of equipment already at the premises the subject of the warrant to examine a thing unless the person operating the equipment has reasonable grounds to believe that the examination can be carried out without damaging the equipment or the thing.