Review of the Police Powers (Drug Premises) Act 2001 - NSW ...
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Premises) Act 2001 - NSW ...
Review of the Police Powers (Drug Premises) Act 2001 - NSW ...
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Chapter 6. The <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong> <strong>Act</strong> -<br />
new <strong>of</strong>fences<br />
6.1. Overview<br />
In this chapter, we discuss <strong>the</strong> new <strong>of</strong>fences created by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong> <strong>Act</strong>, using case studies from court proceedings to illustrate<br />
aspects <strong>of</strong> how <strong>the</strong>se <strong>of</strong>fences have been considered in court.<br />
We will also discuss concerns that were raised about <strong>the</strong> reversal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> onus <strong>of</strong> pro<strong>of</strong> in relation to two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fences in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>: one <strong>of</strong><br />
being found on, entering or leaving drug premises, and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> organising or assisting drug premises.<br />
Demographic information about people who were charged with <strong>of</strong>fences in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>, and where available, information on pleas entered<br />
into, and court outcomes for defendants, is also provided.<br />
6.2. Offences created by <strong>the</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong> <strong>Act</strong><br />
The <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong> <strong>Act</strong> creates three key <strong>of</strong>fences 423 relating to drug premises. These <strong>of</strong>fences are:<br />
• being on, entering or leaving drug premises 424<br />
• organising, conducting, or assisting in organising or conducting, drug premises and 425<br />
• allowing use <strong>of</strong> premises as drug premises. 426<br />
A person cannot be convicted <strong>of</strong> any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> above <strong>of</strong>fences unless it is first proven in court that <strong>the</strong> premises in question are drug<br />
premises. 427 In addition, a person cannot be found guilty <strong>of</strong> being found on, entering or leaving drug premises if <strong>the</strong>y satisfy <strong>the</strong> court that<br />
<strong>the</strong>y had a lawful purpose, or a lawful excuse, for being <strong>the</strong>re. 428 Similarly, if a person is charged with organising, conducting, or assisting<br />
in organising or conducting drug premises, <strong>the</strong>y cannot be found guilty if <strong>the</strong>y satisfy <strong>the</strong> court that <strong>the</strong>y did not know, or could not<br />
reasonably be expected to have known, that <strong>the</strong> premises were drug premises. 429<br />
The maximum penalty for each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>of</strong>fences is 12 months imprisonment, or a fine <strong>of</strong> $5,000, or both. For a second or subsequent<br />
<strong>of</strong>fence under each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se provisions, <strong>the</strong> maximum penalty increases to five years imprisonment, a fine <strong>of</strong> $55,000, or both. 430<br />
The figure below shows <strong>the</strong> numbers <strong>of</strong> charges laid in <strong>NSW</strong> for each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>of</strong>fences over <strong>the</strong> review period. The number <strong>of</strong> drug<br />
premises charges laid in each LAC in <strong>NSW</strong> is presented in <strong>the</strong> Appendix <strong>of</strong> this report.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> charges that were laid under <strong>the</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong> <strong>Act</strong> during <strong>the</strong> review period were for <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>of</strong> being found on, entering<br />
or leaving drug premises. A total <strong>of</strong> 220 charges were laid for this <strong>of</strong>fence.<br />
A total <strong>of</strong> 108 charges were laid for <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>of</strong> allowing a premises to be used as a drug premises.<br />
A total <strong>of</strong> 66 charges were laid for <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fence <strong>of</strong> organising or assisting drug premises.<br />
423 Several o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong>fences in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong> relate to <strong>the</strong> obstruction <strong>of</strong> police during <strong>the</strong> execution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> search warrant, and for failing to state full name<br />
and address to police . A person may be convicted <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se <strong>of</strong>fences even if premises are not proven to be drug premises. <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong><br />
<strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 9.<br />
424 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 12.<br />
425 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 14.<br />
426 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 13.<br />
427 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 11(1).<br />
428 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 12(2).<br />
429 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 14(3).<br />
430 <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong>, s. 12, 13 and 14<br />
<strong>NSW</strong> Ombudsman<br />
<strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Police</strong> <strong>Powers</strong> (<strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Premises</strong>) <strong>Act</strong> <strong>2001</strong> 81
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