17Power to search persons

#### 17 Power to search persons 17 Power to search persons > > (1) A police officer may, without a warrant, stop and search a person, and anything in the possession of or under the control of the person, if— > > > > > (a) the officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the person is the target of an authorisation (or the person is found in suspicious circumstances in the company of the target of the authorisation), or > > > > > (b) the person is in or on a vehicle that the officer suspects on reasonable grounds is the target of an authorisation, or > > > > > (c) the person is in an area that is the target of an authorisation. > > > (2) Division 4 of Part 4 of the [Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002](/view/html/inforce/current/act-2002-103) extends to the search of a person conducted under this section. However, in addition to section 31 of that Act, a police officer may only strip search a person under this section if the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that the person is the target of an authorisation. > > > (3) A police officer must not detain a person for any longer than is reasonably necessary for the purpose of conducting a search under this section. > > **s 17:** Am 2006 No 128, Sch 3 \[3\]; 2017 No 40, Sch 1.12 \[1\]; 2018 No 92, Sch 1 \[3\].