ACTIn ForceAct
Crimes Act 1900
230Identification material—person at least 18 years old
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230 Identification material—person at least 18 years old
(1) A police officer may take identification material from a person who
is at least 18 years old, not in police custody for an offence, and not
in an impaired state, only if the person consents in writing.
(2) A police officer may take identification material from a person who
is at least 18 years old, not in police custody for an offence, and in an
impaired state, only if—
(a) a magistrate orders that the material be taken from the person;
and
(b) the material is taken—
(i) with a parent or guardian, or the domestic partner, of the
person present if—
(A) it is practicable for a parent or guardian, or the
domestic partner, of the person to be present; and
(B) the person does not object to the parent, guardian or
domestic partner being present; or
(ii) if it is not practicable for, or the person objects to, the
parent, guardian or domestic partner of the person being
present when the material is taken—with another person
present (other than a police officer) who is capable of
representing the interests of the person and who, as far as
practicable in the circumstances, is acceptable to the
(3) A police officer may take identification material from a person who
is at least 18 years old and in police custody for an offence only if—
(a) the officer is an officer of or above the rank of sergeant, or is the
officer in charge of a police station at which the person is in
custody; and
(b) any of the following apply:
(i) if the person is not in an impaired state—the person
consents, in writing, to the material being taken;
(ii) the material is limited to a print of the person’s fingers or a
photograph of the person (or both);
(iii) either—
(A) the officer believes on reasonable grounds that taking
the material is necessary to identify the person, or
identify the person as having committed the offence
for which the person is in police custody; or
(B) the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the
person has committed another offence and that the
material is likely to identify the person as having
committed the other offence.
Note Words in the singular number include the plural (see Legislation Act,
s 145 (b)).
(4) A police officer (the applicant) may apply to a magistrate for an order
allowing identification material to be taken from a person under
subsection (2) if either of the following apply (the grounds for the
application):
(a) the applicant believes on reasonable grounds that taking the
material is necessary to identify the person;
(b) the applicant suspects on reasonable grounds that taking the
material is necessary to identify the person as having committed
a stated offence.
(5) The application must be made—
(a) in person; or
(b) if it is not practicable for the applicant to make the application
in person—by telephone, fax, email or any other means of
communication.
(6) The application must—
(b) be sworn on oath; and
Note Oath includes affirmation and swear an oath includes make an
affirmation (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).
(c) state—
(i) the name, age and home address of the person from whom
identification material would be taken (if known); and
(ii) the material that would be taken; and
(iii) the facts in support of the application; and
(iv) the grounds for the application; and
(v) the nature of the person’s impairment; and
(vi) any other information requested by the magistrate; and
(d) include any other information prescribed by regulation.
(7) A magistrate must not make an order allowing identification material
to be taken from a person under this section unless the magistrate is
satisfied that the information is reasonably necessary to identify the
person, or identify the person as having committed the stated offence.
(8) A police officer may use force that is necessary and reasonable in the
circumstances to take identification material from a person under this
(9) If a police officer is required to use force to take identification
material from a person under this section (the forceful taking), the
police officer must ensure that the forceful taking is recorded by a
video recording.