Youth Justice Act 2005

A police officer must not search the property, person or clothing of a youth as part of an investigation of an offence unless there is a support person present.

Subsection (1) does not apply if the officer reasonably believes:

that a search of the property, person or clothing of the youth needs to be carried out as a matter of urgency; and

that a delay to allow a support person to be present would create an unacceptable risk of harm to the youth or another person or the loss or destruction of evidence.

If the search is conducted without a support person being present, the officer must do so in a manner that preserves the dignity of the youth as best as is practicable.

The officer must not require a youth to remove any clothing that the youth is wearing unless:

the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the removal and examination of the clothing may afford evidence of the commission of an offence; and

the youth is provided with adequate clothing to replace the clothing removed.