CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT 2004 - SECT 115

CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ACT 2004 - SECT 115

115 .         Child may be searched

        (1)         An authorised person may search a child, and any thing found on or with the child, for any thing or substance that can be seized under section 116.

        (2)         The search of a child must be done —

            (a)         by an authorised person, or a person designated under subsection (3); and

            (b)         in the presence of at least one other adult.

        (3)         If it is reasonably necessary in order to do the search, an authorised person may designate another person to do the search or to assist in doing the search.

        (3A)         In determining the appropriateness of a person to do the search or assist in doing the search —

            (a)         if there is no reason to suspect that the child is transgender or intersex — the person must be of the same sex as the child; and

            (b)         in any other case, consideration must be given to —

                  (i)         whether the child and the person identify as male, female, transgender or intersex; and

                  (ii)         the views of the child (taking into account the maturity and understanding of the child); and

                  (iii)         any known views of a member of the child’s family or other person who is significant in the child’s life.

        (4)         A person designated under subsection (3) —

            (a)         may do the search or assist in doing the search; and

            (b)         must obey any lawful and reasonable direction of the authorised person.

        (5)         Nothing in this section authorises a search that involves —

            (a)         the removal of some or all of a child’s clothing; or

            (b)         an examination of the body cavities of a child.

        [Section 115 amended: No. 49 of 2010 s. 84; No. 18 of 2021 s. 50.]