Legislation

From 1 July 2004, the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 (Qld) (the Act) will provide new powers for police officers to search for, seize and dispose of potentially harmful things. This power can only be used when a person is found in circumstances that lead to a reasonable suspicion that the person has ingested or inhaled, is ingesting or inhaling or is about to ingest or inhale a potentially harmful thing. The term potentially harmful thing includes volatile substances, the inhalation of which may cause substantial harm.

The Act will also introduce new powers for police officers, in declared localities, to detain a person who is believed to be affected by a potentially harmful thing, to take that person a place of safety and release them.

This amending legislation will be contained in the Act as sections:

1. 603: 'Power to seize potentially harmful things';
2. 604: 'Dealing with persons affected by potentially harmful things';
3. 605: 'Duties in relation to person detained under s. 604';
4. 606: 'No compulsion to stay at place of safety';
5. 607: 'Review of operation of ss. 604-606'; and
6. 608: 'Expiry of ss. 604-607'.

Please note that sections 604-608 are still being trialled in the declared localities within the following areas only :

• Inner Brisbane;
• Logan;
• Cairns;
• Townsville;
• Mount Isa;
• Rockhampton, and
• Caboolture.