ACTIn ForceAct
Crimes Act 1900
205Warrants by telephone or other electronic means
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205 Warrants by telephone or other electronic means
(1) A police officer may make an application to an issuing officer for a
warrant by telephone, fax or other electronic means—
(a) in an urgent case; or
(b) if the delay that would occur if an application were made in
person would frustrate the effective execution of the warrant.
(2) The issuing officer may require communication by voice to the extent
that is practicable in the circumstances.
(3) An application under this section shall include all information
required to be provided in an ordinary application for a warrant, but
the application may, if necessary, be made before the information is
sworn.
(4) If an application is made to an issuing officer under this section and
the issuing officer, after considering the information and having
received and considered the further information (if any) that the
issuing officer required, is satisfied that—
(a) a warrant in the terms of the application should be issued
urgently; or
(b) the delay that would occur if an application were made in person
would frustrate the effective execution of the warrant;
the issuing officer may complete and sign the same form of warrant
that would be issued under section 194.
(5) If the issuing officer decides to issue the warrant, the issuing officer
is to inform the applicant, by telephone, fax or other electronic means,
of the terms of the warrant, the day and the time when it was signed.
(6) The applicant shall then complete a form of warrant in terms
substantially corresponding to those given by the issuing officer,
stating on the form the name of the issuing officer, the day and the
time when the warrant was signed.
(7) The applicant shall, not later than the day after the day of expiry of
the warrant or the day after the day when the warrant was executed,
whichever is the earlier, give or transmit to the issuing officer the
form of warrant completed by the applicant and, if the information
referred to in subsection (3) was not sworn, that information duly
sworn.
(8) The issuing officer is to attach to the documents provided under
subsection (7) the form of warrant completed by the issuing officer.
Powers to stop and search Division 10.4
(9) If—
(a) it is material, in any proceedings, for a court to be satisfied that
the exercise of a power under a warrant issued under this section
was duly authorised; and
(b) the form of warrant signed by the issuing officer is not produced
in evidence;
the court is to assume, unless the contrary is proved, that the exercise
of the power was not duly authorised.