POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 168 Restricting access to crime scene

POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 168

168 Restricting access to crime scene

(1) The responsible officer must immediately take the steps he or she considers to be reasonably necessary to protect anything at the crime scene from being damaged, interfered with or destroyed, including for example, steps necessary—

(a) to ensure people, including police officers, whose presence at the crime scene is not essential do not enter the crime scene; and

(b) to prevent unnecessary movement inside the boundaries of the crime scene; and

(c) to establish a safe walking area in the crime scene for reducing the risk of damage to any evidence that may be on the place.

(2) Also, a person, other than the responsible officer, must not enter a crime scene unless—

(a) the person has a special reason, associated with the investigation, for entering the crime scene; or

(b) the person is a police officer who is asked to enter the crime scene by the responsible officer or an investigating police officer; or

(c) the person is an authorised assistant; or

(d) the presence of the person is necessary to preserve life or property at a crime scene; or

(e) the person is authorised to enter by the responsible officer.

Examples for subsection (2)(a)—

1 a police officer removing someone from the crime scene who should not be there

2 a police officer investigating the offence

3 a person accompanying a police officer to assist in the investigation or who has special knowledge of the place that is relevant to the investigation

(3) For subsection (2) (e) , the responsible officer may authorise the entry subject to stated requirements.

(4) The responsible officer must ensure a record is made of the name of each person who is present when the crime scene is established or enters it after it is established, when each person entered the place after it is established, and the purpose of the entry.