Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003 - NSW ...

Accordingly, it appears unlikely that the facilitation of screening with a drug detection dog would otherwise entitle
a police officer to give a person a direction to open a door. It is less clear whether occupational health and safety
concerns would otherwise entitle an officer to direct a person to open the door of a vehicle.
4.2.3.1. Purpose for directing a person to open a door
Ombudsman observers noted occasions during pre-operational briefings where drug detection dog handlers would
encourage police to get drivers to open doors suggesting that this would enhance the capacity of the dog to detect
the scent of a prohibited drug concealed in the vehicle. One handler requested that police ‘get drivers to open doors
using your communication skills’. The handler acknowledged that there was no power to require a person to open a
door and suggested that officers could make a request such as ‘Do you mind opening the door?’ 180
There appear to be a variety of views of what police can lawfully direct a person to do. For example, the operational
orders for one operation advised:
If relying solely on the powers under the authorisation the person occupying the vehicle should NOT be
directed to open the door of the vehicle to facilitate the screening process. 181 [Original emphasis.]
However, at one pre-operational briefing the officer in charge suggested that a direction to exit the vehicle would be
a reasonable direction under section 9(1)(f) of the Drug Detection Trial Act. In addition, the officer advised that it may
be an offence not to comply with the direction. 182
Similarly, a senior officer we interviewed stated:
Well the legislation actually contradicts itself in that I can’t direct [a driver] to open the door. However, to
facilitate screening I can direct [the driver] to exit the vehicle. How they do that is a matter for themselves as a
long as I don’t say ‘open your door’ I’m not in breach of the legislation. 183
When it was suggested to the above officer that it may not be a reasonable direction if in effect it requires a driver to
open the door, the senior officer responded by saying:
But the legislation provides that I can screen the person connected with the vehicle so at the end of the day to
facilitate that I’m able to give them a reasonable direction to exit the vehicle and at this stage as it stands the
only thing I can’t say is ‘open the door and get out of the vehicle.’ 184
It appears that Parliament intended that drivers and passengers would ordinarily remain in their vehicles
during screening. Thus, in our view, it may be difficult to argue that a direction to exit a vehicle is reasonable in
circumstances where the direction abrogates the effect of the legislative provision proscribing the practice.
4.2.3.2. Requesting heavy vehicle drivers to alight from their cabins
Ombudsman observers noted a number of requests during drug detection operations such as: 185
I’ll just get you to open the door.
Mate can you just switch off the engine and come down.
Mind just turning off the engine and stepping down here.
Can you just switch off your vehicle and hop out for me.
As discussed below (at paragraph 4.2.3.3), it may be difficult for some people to discern whether phrases like these
are requests or lawful directions.
The majority of requests were made to heavy vehicle drivers who were sitting high up in cabins. Police usually
requested heavy vehicle drivers to alight or step down from their cabins due to safety concerns associated with
officers climbing up the side of the truck to:
• inform the driver for the reason for the exercise of the power and the nature of the procedures to be carried
out (pursuant to section 9(3)(c)), and
• give the driver a written notice (pursuant to section 12).
In our view, asking heavy vehicle drivers to alight from their cabins is an entirely sensible practice given the occupational
health and safety risks associated with officers climbing up the side of trucks. As one senior officer opined:
I think it is entirely practical to ask a heavy vehicle driver to step down [from the cabin] to facilitate communication
[as] it is not practical to have officers climbing up and down vehicles [from an OH&S perspective]. 186
NSW Ombudsman
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Detection Trial) Act 2003
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