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ARTICLE · 30 AUGUST 2024

Police powers to investigate and ask questions

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Police powers to investigate offences may be exercised at any given time of the day or night.

AustraliaCriminal Law
Murray Thornhill
Murray Thornhill
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The Criminal Investigation Act 2006 (WA) gives the Western Australian Police powers to investigate, and ask questions of people, in circumstances where they hold a reasonable objective belief that a person has been involved in the commission of a criminal offence. These powers also extend to circumstances where there is a reasonable suspicion that a criminal offence is about to be committed by any person and by use of any object or thing.

Police powers to investigate offences may be exercised at any given time of the day or night unless expressly provided otherwise in the Act.

Police duties during investigations:

The Act requires that Police Officers, or other authorised public officers, conduct themselves in a certain manner at the time any criminal investigation is carried out. For example, Police Officers are required to:

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