Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

It is lawful for a police officer exercising a power under this Act or any other Act—

to seek the help of another person (an assistant) the officer reasonably requires for performing a function of the police service; or

to take onto a place any assistant, equipment, vehicle, animal or material the officer reasonably requires for exercising the power.

The police officer may authorise the assistant—

to take stated action at the place; and

to exercise stated powers the police officer is authorised to exercise.

However, the police officer can not authorise the assistant—

to arrest a person; or

to demand a person’s name and address; or

to exercise a power a police officer has when responding to a CBR emergency under the Public Safety Preservation Act 1986, section 23.

The police officer must, if practicable, tell the assistant—

of the action the assistant is authorised to take; and

of the assistant’s powers under this section.

Also, if the stated action is to help the police officer search the place, the assistant may search the place to the extent authorised by the police officer whether or not a police officer is present while the assistant is searching the place.

However, the assistant may not help search a dwelling unless a police officer is present while the assistant helps in the search.

Subsection (1) applies, in relation to animals, despite any other Act or law.

A reference in this section to a police officer and the police service includes—

a reference to a law enforcement agency and a law enforcement officer when a person is performing the functions of a law enforcement officer under chapter 11 or 13; and

a reference to a protective services officer when performing the functions of a protective services officer under chapter 19, part 1.