Customs Act 1901

PART XII - OFFICERS  

Division 1 - Powers of officers  

Subdivision C - Search warrants in respect of things believed to be evidential material  

SECTION 199B   THE THINGS THAT ARE AUTHORISED BY A SEARCH WARRANT RELATING TO A PERSON  

199B(1)    
A warrant that is in force in relation to a person (the target person ) authorises the executing officer or person assisting:

(a) to search:

(i) the target person as specified in the warrant; and

(ii) any recently used conveyance;

for computers or data storage devices of the kind specified in the warrant; and

(b) to:

(i) seize computers or data storage devices of that kind; or

(ii) record fingerprints from computers or data storage devices; or

(iii) to take samples for forensic purposes from computers or data storage devices;

found in the course of the search; and

(c) to seize other things found on or in the possession of the target person or in the conveyance in the course of the search that the executing officer or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds to be:

(i) prohibited goods that are unlawfully carried by the target person; or

(ii) seizable items.

199B(2)    
A warrant that is in force in relation to a person (the target person ) authorises the executing officer or a person assisting:

(a) to use:

(i) a computer, or data storage device, found in the course of a search authorised under the warrant; or

(ii) a telecommunications facility operated or provided by the Commonwealth or a carrier; or

(iii) any other electronic equipment; or

(iv) a data storage device;

for the purpose of obtaining access to data (the relevant data ) that is held in the computer or device mentioned in subparagraph (i) at any time when the warrant is in force, in order to determine whether the relevant data is evidential material of a kind specified in the warrant; and

(b) if necessary to achieve the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a) - to add, copy, delete or alter other data in the computer or device mentioned in subparagraph (a)(i); and

(c) if, having regard to other methods (if any) of obtaining access to the relevant data which are likely to be as effective, it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so:

(i) to use any other computer or a communication in transit to access the relevant data; and

(ii) if necessary to achieve that purpose - to add, copy, delete or alter other data in the computer or the communication in transit; and

(d) to copy any data to which access has been obtained, and that:

(i) appears to be relevant for the purposes of determining whether the relevant data is evidential material of a kind specified in the warrant; or

(ii) is evidential material of a kind specified in the warrant; and

(e) to do any other thing reasonably incidental to any of the above.

Note:

As a result of the warrant, a person who, by means of a telecommunications facility, obtains access to data stored in a computer etc. will not commit an offence under Part 10.7 of the Criminal Code or equivalent State or Territory laws (provided that the person acts within the authority of the warrant).

199B(3)    
Subsection (2) does not authorise the addition, deletion or alteration of data, or the doing of any thing, that is likely to:

(a) materially interfere with, interrupt or obstruct:

(i) a communication in transit; or

(ii) the lawful use by other persons of a computer;

unless the addition, deletion or alteration, or the doing of the thing, is necessary to do one or more of the things specified in the warrant; or

(b) cause any other material loss or damage to other persons lawfully using a computer.

199B(4)    
It is immaterial whether a thing mentioned in subsection (2) is done:

(a) in the presence of the target person; or

(b) at any other place.

199B(5)    
If the warrant states that it may be executed only during particular hours, the warrant must not be executed outside those hours.

199B(6)    
If the warrant authorises an ordinary search or a frisk search of the target person, a search of the target person different from that so authorised must not be done under the warrant.