TASIn ForceAct
Family Violence Act 2004
10Power of police to enter certain premises
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### 10 Power of police to enter certain premises
> > (1) A police officer may, without warrant, and using such force as is necessary, enter and remain on premises for such period as he or she considers reasonably necessary to prevent family violence –
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> > > > (a) at the request of a person who apparently resides on the premises; or
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> > > > (b) if the officer reasonably suspects that family violence is being, has been or is likely to be committed on those premises.
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> > (2) A police officer who enters premises under [subsection (1)](#GS10@Gs1@EN) may –
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> > > > (a) arrest, without warrant, any person on those premises to facilitate the issue of a PFVO, or the making of an application for an FVO, in respect of that person; and
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> > > > (ab) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (2) amended by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpa@EN) orally direct any person on the premises to remain on the premises in the company of the police officer, or another police officer stated in the direction, for as long as is reasonably necessary to conduct a search under [subsection (3)](#GS10@Gs3@EN) in respect of that person; and
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> > > > (b) remain on those premises in order to conduct a risk screening, safety audit or forensic examination with such assistance as is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances.
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> > (2A) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpb@EN) If a person is directed to remain on premises under [subsection (2)(ab)](#GS10@Gs2@Hpab@EN) , a police officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary to detain the person and conduct a search under [subsection (3)](#GS10@Gs3@EN) .
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> > (3) A police officer who enters premises under [subsection (1)](#GS10@Gs1@EN) may, without warrant –
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> > > > (a) search any person on those premises whom the officer reasonably suspects of having in his or her possession any object which the police officer reasonably suspects has been used, or may be used, to commit a family violence offence or has been created in the commission of a family violence offence; and
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> > > > (b) search those premises for the presence of any such object; and
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> > > > (c) seize and retain any such object.
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> > (4) If a police officer reasonably suspects that a person has committed family violence and in so acting has used or created an object, the officer may, without warrant and using such force as is necessary –
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> > > > (a) enter any premises on which the officer reasonably suspects that the object may be found; and
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> > > > (b) search those premises for the object; and
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> > > > (c) search any person who the officer reasonably suspects has possession of the object; and
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> > > > (d) seize and retain the object; and
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> > > > (e) arrest, without warrant, any person on those premises to facilitate the issue of a PFVO, or the making of an application for an FVO, in respect of that person.
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> > (5) Where a police officer reasonably suspects that –
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> > > > (a) a person has committed, or is likely to commit, family violence; and
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> > > > (b) the person is in possession or control of a firearm –
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> > the police officer may enter premises, without warrant and using such force as is reasonably necessary in the circumstances, in order to search for and seize the firearm.
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> > (6) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (6) amended by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpc@EN) On an application made by a police officer or by any person who claims to be the owner of an object seized and detained under [subsection (2A)](#GS10@Gs2A@EN) , [(3)](#GS10@Gs3@EN) , [(4)](#GS10@Gs4@EN) or [(5)](#GS10@Gs5@EN) , a court may order that the object –
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> > > > (a) be forfeited to the Crown; or
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> > > > (b) be destroyed; or
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> > > > (c) be returned to the owner; or
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> > > > (d) be otherwise disposed of in such manner as the court thinks fit.
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> > (7) If a police officer reasonably suspects that a person has committed family violence, the officer, without warrant and using such force as is reasonably necessary in the circumstances, may –
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> > > > (a) enter any premises on which the officer reasonably suspects the person may be found; and
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> > > > (b) search those premises for the person; and
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> > > > (c) arrest the person.
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> > (7A) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (7A) inserted by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpd@EN) For the purpose of exercising his or her powers under this section, a police officer may authorise any other person, including another police officer, to assist the police officer as is necessary in the circumstances.
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> > (7B) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (7B) inserted by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpd@EN) A person authorised under [subsection (7A)](#GS10@Gs7A@EN) to assist a police officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary in the circumstances to so assist.
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> > (7C) [*\[Section 10 Subsection (7C) inserted by No. 32 of 2015, s. 6, Applied:06 Oct 2015\]*](/view/html/inforce/2015-10-06/act-2015-032#GS6@Hpd@EN) A person must comply with a direction given to the person by a police officer under [subsection (2)(ab)](#GS10@Gs2@Hpab@EN) .
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> > Penalty: Fine not exceeding 80 penalty units.
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> > (8) In this section –
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> > > ***object*** means any matter, material or thing and includes firearms.