80Use and seizure of electronic equipment

80 Use and seizure of electronic equipment (a) an authorised person enters premises or a vehicle under section 72 (Power to enter premises and vehicles); and (b) a thing found in, on or at the premises or vehicle is, or includes, a disk, tape or other device for the storage of information; and (c) equipment in, on or at the premises or vehicle may be used with the disk, tape or other storage device; and (d) the authorised person believes on reasonable grounds that the information stored on the disk, tape or other storage device is relevant to deciding whether an offence has been committed. (2) The authorised person, or a person assisting the authorised person, may operate the equipment to access the information. (3) If the authorised person, or a person assisting the authorised person, finds that a disk, tape or other storage device in, on or at the premises or vehicle contains information of a kind mentioned in subsection (1) (d), the authorised person, or a person assisting the authorised person, may— (a) put the information in documentary form and seize the document produced; or (b) copy the information to another disk, tape or other storage device and remove the storage device from the premises or vehicle; or

(c) if it is not practicable to put the information in documentary form or to copy the information—seize the disk, tape or other storage device and the equipment that allows the information to be accessed. Note A record, device or other thing seized under this part, or information obtained under this part may, for law enforcement, be given to a public authority, including a public authority of another jurisdiction (see s 181). (4) An authorised person, or a person assisting an authorised person, must not operate or seize equipment under this section unless the authorised person, or person assisting, believes on reasonable grounds that the operation or seizure of the equipment can be carried out without damage to the equipment.