Search Warrants Act 1997

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears –

conveyance includes an aircraft, vehicle or vessel;

evidential material means a thing relevant to an offence, including such a thing in electronic form;

executing officer, in relation to a warrant, means – the police officer named in the warrant by the issuing officer as being responsible for executing the warrant; or if that police officer does not intend to be present at the execution of the warrant – another police officer whose name has been written in the warrant by the police officer so named; or another police officer whose name has been written in the warrant by the police officer last named in the warrant;

frisk search means – a search of a person conducted by running the hands over the person's outer garments; and an examination of anything worn by the person that is voluntarily removed by the person;

issuing officer, in relation to a warrant to search premises, means a justice of the peace but does not include a magistrate;

ordinary search means a search of a person or of articles in the possession of a person that may include – requiring the person to remove his or her overcoat, coat, jacket or similar clothing and any gloves, shoes and hat; and an examination of those items;

person assisting, in relation to a warrant, means – a person who is a police officer and who is assisting in executing the warrant; or a person who is not a police officer and who has been authorised by the relevant executing officer to assist in executing the warrant;

premises includes a place and a conveyance;

seizable item means anything that would present a danger to a person or that could be used to assist a person to escape from lawful custody;

thing relevant to an offence means – anything with respect to which an offence against any law of the State has been committed or is suspected, on reasonable grounds, to have been committed; or anything as to which there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that it will afford evidence as to the commission of any such offence; or anything as to which there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that it is intended to be used for the purpose of committing any such offence;

warrant means a warrant under this Act;

warrant premises means premises in relation to which a warrant is in force.