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Corrections Act 2004

Corrections system - Coercive powers - Searching of prisoners and other persons

97: Use of dogs for searching

You could also call this:

"Officers can use dogs to help search you, but must do it respectfully and carefully."

Illustration for Corrections Act 2004

When you are being searched by an officer, they can use a dog to help with the search. The dog can be controlled by the officer doing the search or by someone else who is helping, like a constable. The officer in charge of the dog must make sure it does not touch you while you are being searched.

The officer must search you in a respectful and sensitive way, and make sure you are treated with dignity. They have to balance being respectful with doing a proper search. You can find more information about the law that allows officers to use dogs for searching by looking at the Corrections Act 2004 and the changes made to it, such as those in the Policing Act 2008 and the Corrections Amendment Act 2019.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM296037.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Police and safetyCrime and justice > Criminal lawGovernment and voting > Government departments
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96: Authority to search property, or

"People in charge can search you, your things, and your prison cell to keep everyone safe."

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98: Search of cells, or

"Prison officers can search your cell at any time to keep you and others safe"

Part 2Corrections system
Coercive powers: Searching of prisoners and other persons

97Use of dogs for searching

  1. In exercising any power of search conferred by this Act, any officer may have with him or her, and use for the purposes of searching, any dog.

  2. Any dog used for searching may be under the control of—

  3. the officer conducting the search; or
    1. any other person (being a constable, an officer of Customs, or any member of the Armed Forces) who may accompany the officer for the purposes of the search.

      1. While any officer is using a dog for the purposes of searching any person, the officer who has control of the dog must take reasonable steps to prevent the dog from coming into physical contact with the person being searched.

      2. Any officer who uses a dog for the purposes of searching any person must conduct the search with decency and sensitivity and in a manner that affords to the person being searched the greatest degree of dignity consistent with the purpose of the search.

      Compare
      • 1954 No 51 s 21J
      Notes
      • Section 97(2)(b): amended, on , pursuant to section 116(a)(ii) of the Policing Act 2008 (2008 No 72).
      • Section 97(3): replaced, on , by section 24 of the Corrections Amendment Act 2019 (2019 No 57).