ACTIn ForceAct
Crimes Act 1900
227Power to conduct strip search
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 227
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Crimes Act 1900.
227 Power to conduct strip search
(1) Subject to this section, if a person arrested for an offence is brought
to a police station, a police officer may conduct a strip search of the
(2) A strip search may be conducted if—
(a) a police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the person
has in his or her possession—
(i) evidential material in relation to that or another offence; or
(ii) a seizable item; or
(b) the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that a visual
inspection of the person’s body will provide evidence of the
person’s involvement in an offence;
and—
(c) the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that it is
necessary to conduct a strip search of the person to recover that
thing or to discover that evidence; and
(d) a police officer of the rank of superintendent or higher has
approved the conduct of the search.
(3) Subject to section 228, a strip search may also be conducted if the
person consents in writing.
(4) Subject to section 228, a strip search may be conducted in the
presence of a medical practitioner who may assist in the search.
(5) The approval may be obtained by telephone, fax or other electronic
means.
(6) A police officer who gives or refuses to give an approval under
subsection (2) (d) shall make a record of the decision and of the
reasons for the decision.
(7) The force that is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances may
be used to conduct a strip search under subsection (2).
(8) Any item of a kind referred to in subsection (2) (a) that is found during
a strip search may be seized.