New Powers for Queensland Police
Some new powers are coming for police and for some the changes can’t come soon enough.
Police will have the ability to use ‘move-on’ powers in all public spaces in Queensland, under a new Bill introduced to State Parliament yesterday.
Police Minister Judy Spence said the provision of statewide move-on powers in the Police Powers and Responsibilities and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2006 was about safeguarding the community’s right to feel safe in public places.
“By ensuring move-on powers apply to all public spaces and recreational areas, it will enable them to be enjoyed peacefully by everyone,” Ms Spence said.
Ms Spence said move-on directions could be issued by police to avoid arresting someone.
“The amendment of any police legislation is always approached by government with a great deal of consideration and deliberation,” Ms Spence said.
“That is why police will be required to publicly report on the use of move-on directions in the Queensland Police Service Annual Statistical Review, which is published each year.
“The Crime and Misconduct Commission would also undertake a review of the issuing of police move-on directions 18 months after the new statewide powers come into effect.
“These new powers for police will not affect a person’s right of peaceful assembly, or their right to enjoy public facilities.
“They are about ensuring someone does not get arrested in the first instance, by giving someone a direction to leave an area for a period of up to 24 hours.”
Ms Spence said the Bill would also remove the time-consuming and extensive application process for local councils.
Statewide move-on powers are among a range of provisions covered in the new Bill, which also contains:
* the new offence of ‘evade police’, in which someone who causes high speed pursuits will soon face permanent confiscation of their vehicle, a fine of up to $15,000 and/or three years in jail;
* inclusion of spitting, biting or throwing bodily fluids at a police officer as a “serious assault” under Section 340 of the Criminal Code, which carries a jail term of up to seven years;
* requiring a person to provide their password, code or encryption details to police if their computer is seized in accordance with a search warrant;
* enabling police to issue a ‘notice to appear’ to start a domestic violence application, instead of first having to make an arrest or serve a summons;
* providing specific powers to watchhouse officers to enable them to carry out many of the functions presently restricted to police officers;
* giving police the power to enter a chemist’s premises to monitor excessive sales of pseudoephedrine by inspecting their register and other related items;
* enabling police to search people and vehicles without a warrant for an offence involving wilful damage if there is a reasonable suspicion.
