22Power to conduct additional search

22 Power to conduct additional search

(1)  In this section –

body cavity means rectum or vagina;

strip search means a search, other than a body cavity search, in which the person searched is required to remove most or all of his or her clothes.

(2)  A police officer may without warrant conduct a strip search of the person if –

(a) the person is suspected of being a designated person; and

(b) the police officer believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to conduct a strip search of that person for the purposes of the search and that the seriousness and urgency of the circumstances require a strip search to be conducted.

(3)  A police officer may detain a person for so long as is reasonably necessary to conduct a search under this section.

(4)  Where a police officer detains a person for the purpose of a search under this section, the following provisions apply:

(a) if it is proposed to conduct a strip search, the search is to be conducted by an officer of the same sex as the person searched or by a person of the same sex under the direction of a police officer;

(b) if the search involves the application of force to the person, the police officer must give the Commissioner of Police a written report about the search within 7 days, including particulars of the circumstances that gave rise to the application of force.