Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

This section applies if a police officer—

searches or arrests a person; or

searches a vehicle; or

searches a place, other than a public place; or

seizes any property; or

stops or detains a person or vehicle; or

requires a person to state the person’s name and address; or

gives to a person a direction under section 48 or 177; or

enters a place to make an inquiry or investigation or to serve a document; or

exercises a power as a public official.

The police officer must, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform the person the subject of the power of the following—

if the police officer is not in uniform—

that the officer is a police officer; and

the officer’s name, rank and station;

if the police officer is in uniform—the officer’s name, rank and station.

If the police officer is not in uniform, the police officer must also produce for inspection the officer’s identity card.

If the police officer is searching a person, vehicle or place, other than under a search warrant, the police officer must state the purpose of the search and the reason for seizing any property.

If 2 or more police officers are searching the vehicle or place, only the senior police officer present is required to comply with subsections (2) to (4).

However, if a person asks another police officer for the information mentioned in subsection (2) or to produce an identity card, the police officer must give to the person the information requested or produce the identity card.