ACTIn ForceAct
Crimes Act 1900
Subdiv 107.1A Stopping, searching or detaining person
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Subdivision 10.7.1A Stopping, searching or detaining person
under 14 years old without warrant
252AA Application of sdiv 10.7.1A
(1) This subdivision applies, despite any territory law to the contrary, to
the exercise of a power to stop, search or detain a person under this
Act or any other territory law.
(2) However, this subdivision does not apply to the exercise of a power
to stop, search or detain a person if the power is exercised under a
warrant, or an order made by a court or the ACAT.
252AB Police officer must not stop, search or detain person
under 14 years old generally
A police officer must not exercise a power to stop, search or detain a
person under 14 years old, except in accordance with this subdivision.
252AC Stopping, searching or detaining person under 14 years
old for prevention of harm etc
(1) A police officer may exercise a power to stop, search or detain a
person under 14 years old if the officer believes on reasonable
grounds that—
(a) the power is being exercised in relation to a person who is at
least 14 years old; or
(b) the person is at risk of engaging in, or has engaged in, any of the
following conduct:
(i) harm to themselves or someone else;
(ii) serious damage to property or the environment or cruelty
to an animal;
(iii) any other serious or destructive behaviour; or
(c) the exercise of the power is required to ensure the safety of the
(2) In exercising the power, the police officer must not detain the person
for longer than is necessary and reasonable to—
(a) for subsection (1) (a)—determine that the person is under
14 years old; or
(b) for subsection (1) (b)—prevent or stop the conduct; or
(c) for subsection (1) (c)—ensure the safety of the person.
serious or destructive behaviour includes conduct that is an offence
punishable, on conviction, by imprisonment.
252AD Stopping, searching or detaining person under 14 years
old when relevant to other investigation
A police officer may exercise a power to stop, search or detain a
person if the person is under 14 years old if the officer—
(a) is conducting an investigation into an offence or possible
offence committed by another person; and
(b) believes on reasonable grounds that the person under 14 years
old possesses evidence relevant to the investigation.
Note A police officer must not detain a person for longer than is necessary and
reasonable to conduct a search (see s 208).
252AE Police action after stopping, searching or detaining
person under 14 years old
(1) If a police officer stops, searches or detains a person under 14 years
old in accordance with this subdivision, the officer may continue the
detention of the person for as long as reasonably necessary to take the
person to—
(a) a parent of the person; or
(b) someone else who has daily care responsibility, or long-term
care responsibility, for the person; or
(c) if it is not practicable or appropriate to take the person to
someone mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b)—another
appropriate person or agency.
(2) If a police officer takes a person under 14 years old to an appropriate
person or agency under subsection (1) (c), the police officer must as
soon as practicable give written notice about the matter to—
(a) if the person under 14 years old is known to be an Aboriginal or
Torres Strait Islander child or young person—the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
commissioner; or
(b) in any other case—the public advocate.
(3) Written notice under subsection (2) must, as far as practicable,
include the following:
(a) a description of the person under 14 years old and any known
information about the person’s identity;
(b) a brief description of the circumstances in which the person was
stopped, searched or detained;
(c) the address of the place where the person was taken and the
contact details of a person at the place with responsibility for the
care of the person under 14 years old;
(d) the date and time the person was taken to the place.
(4) A failure to comply with subsection (2) or (3) does not affect the
validity of anything done under subsection (1) (c).
Subdivision 10.7.1 Arrest of children under the age of
criminal responsibility