Police Powers

You have the right to remain silent and you never have to tell the police your name and address even if requested to do so.

• True

• False

It is an offence to give the police a false name.

• True

• False

It is an offence to swear at a police officer.

• True

• False

• This is not a specific offence

When investigating a serious offence the police are allowed to enter a person’s home without consent:

• In order to make further investigations; or

• In order to make an arrest only where they reasonably suspect the person to be arrested is in the home; or

• The police are never allowed to enter a person’s home unless they have a warrant.

The police can stop and search any person to see if they might have committed a crime.

• True

• False

If you are hanging out in a public place, like a park or a mall, the police can insist that you leave even if you have not done anything wrong.

• True

• False

Generally when arresting or searching a person the police can use as much force:

• As they like; or

• As is reasonably necessary; or

• As is reasonably necessary so long as it is not likely to cause grievous bodily harm or death to a person.

The police can take fingerprints from a person who they suspect of committing an offence.

• True

• False

Police can stop and search a vehicle for no reason.

• True

• False

When a child has already been convicted of other offences they can be treated like an adult offender during the investigation and arrest processes.

• True

• False