A "dawn raid" is the phrase used to describe an
unannounced inspection of a company's business premises or a
person's residential premises, usually early in the morning,
often around 9am in the case of business premises.
The Securities and Futures Commission (the SFC), the Independent
Commission against Corruption (the ICAC) and the Competition
Commission, amongst others, all have the power to gain entry to
premises and conduct a search in certain circumstances. Generally,
the SFC, ICAC and Competition Commission all need a search warrant
to conduct a dawn raid, although the ICAC may conduct a raid
without a warrant in urgent circumstances.
What can trigger a dawn raid?
Generally, where the relevant authority has reasonable grounds
to believe or suspect that a company or person has contravened
certain laws, then such a company or person could be subject to a
dawn raid. The raiding authority in each case will depend upon the
specific law suspected of being
