Search powers condemned
Proposals to extend police powers to search criminal suspects, recommended by the Criminal Law Reform Committee, have been criticised by the Legal Association.
The suggested procedures had- insufficient safeguards against abuse, said Mrs M. R. Evans, the association’s chairman.
Unless a suspect consented to a police search, the police would have to apply to a District Court judge for an order. However, only the police would have the right to be heard. Once the order was made the suspect could object only on
“genuine religious or medical grounds.” Given the limited grounds for objection, and the fact that only the police could be heard in court, it was likely that many suspects might be persuaded to “capitulate” and consent to a search. One of the most alarming aspects of the recommended procedure was that it could be used before a suspect was arrested, said Mrs Evans. Although the ■ police would have to show “reasonable” grounds before a search order would be granted, these grounds would no( necessarily be as substantial as those which would justify an arrest.
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Press, 11 August 1980, Page 4
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180Search powers condemned Press, 11 August 1980, Page 4
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