UK Police Banned from Using ‘Stop & Search’ Powers
The Northamptonshire police force has taken proactive steps to stop its officers from abusing their powers and searching people without reasonable cause. In the UK, as in Australia, police frequently conduct searches without a proper basis. These searches are illegal....
Are We Being Scared Into Handing Over Our Rights?
Fearmongering is a useful political tactic for governments desperate to pass controversial laws which might otherwise be perceived as unjust or irrational. The creation of fear of a perceived enemy - whether communists, fascists or terrorists – has signified the...
Rights When Pulled Over By Police
Many motor vehicle users are unsure about their rights when pulled over by police. So we’ve answered six of the top questions when it comes to your rights during traffic stops. When can police pull me over? Police have broad...
Police Power to Force the Disclosure of Identity
As a general rule, criminal defence lawyers will advise clients not to answer police questions. There are several reasons for this, one of which is that those who participate in police interviews will often inadvertently say things that lead to...
Police Want Further Dilution of Right to Silence
A little over two years ago, NSW Police were pushing then-Premier Barry O’Farrell to remove the right to silence for those accused of serious criminal offences. Back then, police argued that legal reform was desperately needed to address situations where...
Police to Access Bank Records Without A Warrant
The NSW Police Force announced last week that it will be seeking broad new powers to access bank data without a warrant, provided that police claim to suspect that a person is engaging in criminal conduct. If the laws are...
Rights Abused While in Police Custody
The safety and wellbeing of people being held in police custody is again in the spotlight with shocking allegations emerging that a woman was held for 16 hours at Ballarat police station in regional Victoria, and not provided with any...
What Happens If Police Damage My Property?
Recent changes to the law mean that police are getting more and more power. But fortunately, they cannot barge down your front door and come into your home without a legitimate reason. Police must have a legitimate reason come into...
The Right to Protest: A Thing of the Past
Protesting has long been a way for people to publicly express their views and demonstrate their grievances. It has achieved a great deal since the late 1800s; from workers rights to female suffrage, and from civil rights to environmental protections....
Will meta-data laws catch criminals, or turn civilians into suspects?
Last week, the Federal government’s controversial meta-data laws passed the Senate. The laws require internet and phone service providers (ISPs) to store your meta-data for a period of two years, and to hand that information over to a raft of...
