POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 450 Special requirement for child of at least 14

POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 450

450 Special requirement for child of at least 14

(1) This section applies if a police officer reasonably suspects the relevant person is a child who is at least 14 years.

(2) The police officer may ask the child to give a forensic procedure consent.

(3) The police officer must ensure a support person is present when the explanation mentioned in section 454 is given and when any consent is given.

(4) To assist the child to consider the explanation and decide whether or not to consent, the police officer must ensure the child is given a reasonable opportunity to speak to the support person in circumstances in which the conversation can not be overheard, if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

(5) Subsection (6) applies if the child gives a forensic procedure consent relating to the performance of a non-intimate forensic procedure.

(6) Before the procedure is performed a police officer must ask the child whether he or she wants a support person to be present while the procedure is being performed and, if the child wants a support person to be present, must ensure a support person is present while the procedure is being performed.