Administration of Sentences - NSW Ombudsman - NSW Government

Increased powers of
correctional offi cers to stop,
detain and search people
and vehicles
Chapter 3. Items prohibited from being brought into places of detention ............................................. 19
3.1. Restrictions on inmate property ..................................................................................................................19
3.2. Demand for contraband items ...................................................................................................................20
3.3. Entry of contraband items into places of detention ...................................................................................20
3.4. Australian laws banning certain items from places of detention ................................................................21
3.5. NSW legislation and policies ......................................................................................................................24
3.6. Clarity of NSW provisions ...........................................................................................................................25
Chapter 4. Informing people about relevant laws and policies .............................................................. 35
4.1. Brochures ...................................................................................................................................................37
4.2. Signage .......................................................................................................................................................38
4.3. Additional ways to improve information provision ......................................................................................40
Chapter 5. Powers of correctional offi cers to stop, detain and search people and vehicles ................ 43
5.1. Attempts by DCS to prevent prohibited items from being introduced into places of detention ................43
5.2. Powers of correctional offi cers in Australian jurisdictions other than NSW ................................................43
5.3. Powers of correctional offi cers in NSW ......................................................................................................45
5.4. Consequences of existing NSW legislative framework ..............................................................................47
Chapter 6. Prerequisites for conducting a search ................................................................................... 53
6.1. Immediate vicinity of a place of detention ..................................................................................................53
6.2. Reasonable suspicion ................................................................................................................................56
Chapter 7. Conduct of searches ............................................................................................................... 63
7.1. Sex of searching offi cers ............................................................................................................................64
7.2. Searching of children and vulnerable persons ...........................................................................................70
7.3. Searches based on consent .......................................................................................................................74
7.4. Use of dogs ................................................................................................................................................76
NSW Ombudsman
Review of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Amendment Act 2002 and Summary Offences Amendment (Places of Detention) Act 2002 17