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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
CRIMES (CONTROLLED OPERATIONS) BILL 2008
2008
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL
TERRITORY
(As presented)
(Attorney-General)
Crimes
(Controlled Operations) Bill 2008
Contents
Page
2008
THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL
TERRITORY
(As presented)
(Attorney-General)
Crimes (Controlled
Operations) Bill 2008
A Bill for
An Act to provide for the authorisation, conduct and monitoring of
controlled operations
The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as
follows:
This Act is the Crimes (Controlled Operations) Act 2008.
This Act commences on the day after its notification day.
Note The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence
on the notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).
The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.
Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms
used in this Act, and includes references (signpost definitions)
to other terms defined elsewhere in this Act.
For example, the signpost definition ‘urgent
application—see section 9.’ means that the term
‘urgent application’ is defined in that section.
Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost
definition) applies to the entire Act unless the definition, or another
provision of the Act, provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise
appears (see Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this
Act.
Note See the Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the
legal status of notes.
5 Offences
against Act—application of Criminal Code etc
Other legislation applies in relation to offences against this
Act.
Note 1 Criminal Code
The Criminal Code, ch 2 applies to all offences against this Act (see Code,
pt 2.1).
The chapter sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility
(including burdens of proof and general defences), and defines terms used for
offences to which the Code applies (eg conduct,
intention, recklessness and strict
liability).
Note 2 Penalty units
The Legislation Act, s 133 deals with the meaning of offence penalties that
are expressed in penalty units.
The objects of this Act are—
(a) to provide for the authorisation, conduct and monitoring of controlled
operations, including operations conducted in the ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more
other jurisdictions or in 1 or more participating jurisdictions—
(i) for the purpose of obtaining evidence that may lead to the prosecution
of people for particular offences; and
(ii) that involve or may involve conduct for which participants in the
operation would otherwise be criminally responsible; and
(b) to facilitate mutual recognition of things done in relation to
controlled operations authorised under laws of other jurisdictions corresponding
to this Act; and
(c) to ensure, as far as practicable, that appropriately trained people
may act as participants in authorised operations; and
(d) to ensure that a person who may act as a participant in an authorised
operation engages in otherwise unlawful activities only as part of the
authorised operation; and
(e) to provide appropriate protection from civil and criminal liability
for people acting under this Act; and
(f) to clarify the status of evidence obtained by participants in
authorised operations.
7 Relationship
to other laws and matters
(1) This Act does not affect any territory law that authorises, controls
or monitors the conduct of operations wholly within the ACT—
(a) that are for the purpose of obtaining evidence that may lead to the
prosecution of a person for an offence; and
(b) that involve, or may involve, conduct for which participants in the
operation would otherwise be criminally responsible.
Note Territory law includes the common law (see Legislation
Act, dict, pt 1, def territory law and law,
of the Territory).
(2) A function conferred in relation to the activities of the Australian
Crime Commission under this Act is only conferred for the purpose of the
function conferred on the Australian Crime Commission under the Australian
Crime Commission (ACT) Act 2003 relating to suspected serious and organised
crime as defined in that Act.
(3) Subject to subsection (4), this Act does not limit a discretion a
court has—
(a) to admit or exclude evidence in a proceeding; or
(b) to stay a criminal proceeding in the interests of justice.
(4) However, in deciding whether evidence should be admitted or excluded
in a proceeding, the fact that the evidence was obtained as a result of a person
engaging in criminal activity is to be disregarded if—
(a) the person was a participant or corresponding participant acting in
the course of an authorised operation or corresponding authorised operation;
and
(b) the criminal activity was controlled conduct within the meaning of
this Act or controlled conduct within the meaning of a corresponding
law.
(5) The following Acts do not apply to investigations, operations,
activities and records under this Act:
(a) the Freedom of Information Act 1989;
(b) the Territory Records Act 2002.
8 Controlled
operation taken to be conducted in ACT
For this Act, a controlled operation in relation to a relevant offence is
taken to be conducted in the ACT, whether or not it is also conducted in another
jurisdiction, if a participant in the operation is a law enforcement officer of
the ACT.
Part
2 Authorisation
of controlled operations
9 Application
for authority to conduct controlled operation
(1) A law enforcement officer of a law enforcement agency may apply to the
chief officer of the agency for an authority to conduct a controlled operation
on behalf of the agency.
(2) An application for an authority may be made—
(a) in writing signed by the applicant (a standard
application); or
(b) if the applicant has reason to believe that the delay caused by making
a standard application may affect the success of the operation—orally in
person or by telephone, fax, email or any other means of communication (an
urgent application).
(3) This part does not prevent an application for an authority being made
in relation to a controlled operation that has been the subject of a previous
application.
(4) In any application, whether standard or urgent, the applicant
must—
(a) provide sufficient information to enable the chief officer to decide
whether or not to grant the application; and
(b) state whether or not the proposed operation, or any other controlled
operation in relation to the same criminal activity, has been the subject of an
earlier application for an authority or amendment of an authority and, if so,
whether or not the authority or amendment was granted.
(5) The chief officer may require the applicant to give the chief officer
the additional information the chief officer reasonably needs to decide the
application.
(6) As soon as practicable after making an urgent application, the
applicant must make a written record of the application and give a copy of it to
the chief officer.
10 Decision
on application for authority
(1) After considering an application for an authority to conduct a
controlled operation, and any additional information given under section
9 (5), the chief officer may—
(a) authorise the operation by granting the authority, either
unconditionally or subject to conditions; or
(b) refuse the application.
(2) An authority to conduct a controlled operation may not be granted
unless the chief officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds
that—
(a) a relevant offence has been, is being or is likely to be committed;
and
(b) the controlled operation will be, or is likely to be, conducted in the
ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more other jurisdictions or in 1 or more participating
jurisdictions; and
(c) the nature and extent of the suspected criminal activity justify the
conduct of a controlled operation in the ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more other
jurisdictions or in 1 or more participating jurisdictions; and
(d) any unlawful conduct involved in conducting the operation will be
limited to the minimum necessary to conduct an effective controlled operation;
and
(e) the operation will be conducted in a way that will minimise the risk
of more illicit goods being under the control of people, other than law
enforcement officers, at the end of the operation than are reasonably necessary
to enable the officers to achieve the purpose of the controlled operation;
and
(f) the proposed controlled conduct will be able to be accounted for in a
way that will enable the reporting requirements of part 4 to be complied with;
and
(g) the operation will not be conducted in a way that a person is likely
to be induced to commit an offence against a law of any jurisdiction or the
Commonwealth that the person would not otherwise have committed; and
(h) any conduct involved in the operation will not—
(i) endanger the health or safety of any person; or
(ii) cause the death of, or injury to, any person; or
(iii) involve the commission of a sexual offence against any person;
or
(iv) result in unlawful loss of or serious damage to property (other than
illicit goods); and
(i) any role assigned to a civilian participant in the operation is not
one that could be adequately performed by a law enforcement officer.
(1) An authority to conduct a controlled operation may be
granted—
(a) in writing signed by the chief officer (a standard
authority); or
(b) if the chief officer is satisfied that the delay caused by granting a
standard authority may affect the success of the operation—orally in
person or by telephone, fax, email or any other means of communication (an
urgent authority).
(2) This part does not prevent an authority being granted in relation to a
controlled operation that has been the subject of a previous
authority.
(3) An authority, whether standard or urgent, must—
(a) state the name and rank or position of the person granting the
authority; and
(b) identify the principal law enforcement officer and, if the principal
law enforcement officer is not the applicant for the authority, the name of the
applicant; and
(c) state whether the application is a standard application or an urgent
application; and
(d) identify each person who may engage in controlled conduct for the
purposes of the controlled operation; and
(e) state the participating jurisdictions in which the controlled conduct
is, or is likely, to be engaged in; and
(f) identify the nature of the criminal activity (including the suspected
relevant offences) in relation to which the controlled conduct is to be engaged
in; and
(g) identify—
(i) in relation to the law enforcement participants—the nature of
the controlled conduct that the participants may engage in; and
(ii) in relation to the civilian participants—the particular
controlled conduct (if any) that each participant may engage in; and
(h) identify (to the extent known) any suspect; and
(i) state the period (not longer than 3 months for a standard authority or
7 days for an urgent authority) of validity of the authority; and
(j) state any conditions to which the conduct of the operation is subject;
and
(k) state the date and time when the authority is granted; and
(l) identify (to the extent known)—
(i) the nature and quantity of any illicit goods that will be involved in
the operation; and
(ii) the route through which those goods will pass in the course of the
operation.
(4) A person is sufficiently identified for subsection (3) (d) if the
person is identified—
(a) by an assumed name under which the person is operating; or
(b) by a code name or code number—
so long as the assumed name, code name or code number can be matched to the
person’s identity.
(5) The chief officer must ensure that written notes are kept of the
details mentioned in subsection (3) for each urgent authority.
Unless sooner cancelled, an authority has effect for the period of validity
stated in it in accordance with section 11 (3) (i).
13 Amendment
of authority
(1) The chief officer may amend an authority—
(a) at any time on the chief officer’s own initiative; or
(b) on application under subsection (3).
(2) However, an amendment cannot be made that has the effect
of—
(a) extending the period of validity of an urgent authority; or
(b) extending the period of validity of a standard authority for longer
than 3 months after the date it was granted.
(3) The principal law enforcement officer for an authorised operation, or
any other law enforcement officer on behalf of the principal law enforcement
officer, may apply to the chief officer for an amendment of an authority for any
1 or more of the following purposes:
(a) to extend the period of validity of the authority (except as provided
by subsection (2));
(b) to authorise additional or alternative people to engage in controlled
conduct for the purposes of the operation;
(c) to authorise participants in the operation to engage in additional or
alternative controlled conduct;
(d) to identify additional suspects (to the extent known).
(4) More than 1 application for amendment may be made in relation to the
same authority.
(5) An application for amendment of an authority may be
made—
(a) in writing signed by the applicant (a standard amendment
application); or
(b) if the applicant has reason to believe that the delay caused by making
a standard amendment application may affect the success of the
operation—orally in person or by telephone, fax, email or any other means
of communication (an urgent amendment application).
(6) The chief officer may require the applicant to give the information
concerning the proposed amendment that is necessary for the chief
officer’s proper consideration of the application.
(7) As soon as practicable after making an urgent amendment application,
the applicant must make a written record of the application and give a copy of
it to the chief officer.
(8) After considering an application for amendment of an authority, and
any additional information given under subsection (6), the chief officer
may—
(a) amend the authority in accordance with the application, either
unconditionally or subject to conditions; or
(b) refuse the application.
(9) Section 10 (2) applies to an application for amendment of an authority
under this section in the same way as it applies to an application for an
authority under section 10 (1).
(10) Without limiting subsection (9), an amendment of an authority may not
be granted unless the chief officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds that the
amendment will not authorise a significant alteration of the nature of the
authorised operation concerned.
(11) An amendment of an authority may be granted only—
(a) in writing signed by the chief officer (a standard amendment of
authority); or
(b) if the chief officer is satisfied that the delay caused by granting a
standard amendment of authority may affect the success of the
operation—orally in person or by telephone, fax, email or any other means
of communication (an urgent amendment of authority).
(12) The chief officer must—
(a) ensure that written notes are kept of the following matters:
(i) the date and time when the amendment of authority was
granted;
(ii) the identity of the law enforcement officer to whom the amendment of
authority was granted;
(iii) particulars of the amendments of the original authority that are
approved under this section; and
(b) as soon as practicable, prepare and give to the applicant a written
amendment of authority that complies with section 14.
(13) The applicant must take all reasonable steps to inform participants
in a controlled operation about the grant of a standard amendment of authority
no later than 48 hours after the day the standard amendment of authority is
granted.
14 Form
of amendment of authority
An amendment of an authority must—
(a) identify the authorised operation for which the authority is in force;
and
(b) state the name, and rank or position, of the person granting the
amendment; and
(c) if the application for amendment is made under
section 13 (3)—state the name of the applicant; and
(d) state whether the application is a standard amendment application or
was an urgent amendment application; and
(e) state the date and time when the amendment of an authority is or was
granted; and
(f) describe the amendment having regard to the purposes mentioned in
section 13 (3) in relation to which the application was made.
15 Cancellation
of authority
(1) The chief officer may, by written order given to the principal law
enforcement officer for an authorised operation, cancel the authority at any
time and for any reason.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the chief officer may cancel an
authority for an authorised operation at any time at the request of the
principal law enforcement officer for the operation.
(3) Cancellation of an authority for a controlled operation takes
effect—
(a) when the order is made; or
(b) if the order states a later time of effect—at the later
time.
(1) While it has effect, an authority for a controlled operation
authorises—
(a) each law enforcement participant to engage in the controlled conduct
stated in the authority in relation to the law enforcement participants;
and
(b) each civilian participant (if any) to engage in the particular
controlled conduct (if any) stated in the authority in relation to the
participant; and
(c) each participant to engage in that conduct in the ACT or any
participating jurisdiction (subject to any corresponding law of that
participating jurisdiction).
(2) The authority to engage in controlled conduct given to a participant
cannot be delegated to any other person.
An application for an authority or amendment of an authority, and any
authority or amendment of an authority granted on the basis of an application,
is not invalidated by any defect, other than a defect that affects the
application, authority or amendment in a material particular.
Part
3 Conduct of controlled
operations
Division
3.1 Controlled conduct engaged in for
authorised operation
18 Protection
from criminal responsibility for controlled conduct during authorised
operation
Despite any other territory law, a participant who engages in conduct
(whether in the ACT or elsewhere) in an authorised operation in the course of,
and for the purposes of, the operation is not, if engaging in that conduct is an
offence, criminally responsible for the offence if—
(a) the conduct is authorised by, and is engaged in in accordance with,
the authority for the operation; and
(b) the conduct does not involve the participant intentionally inducing a
person to commit an offence against a law of any jurisdiction or the
Commonwealth that the person would not otherwise have committed; and
(c) the conduct does not involve the participant engaging in any conduct
that is likely to—
(i) cause the death of, or serious injury to, any person; or
(ii) involve the commission of a sexual offence against any person; and
(d) if the participant is a civilian participant—the participant
acts in accordance with the instructions of a law enforcement officer.
19 Civil
liability not incurred
(1) This section applies if a controlled operation has been authorised by
the chief officer of a law enforcement agency under section 10.
(2) A participant in the authorised operation does not incur any civil
liability because of conduct that the participant engages in if—
(a) the participant engages in the conduct in the course of, and for the
purposes of, the operation in accordance with the authority for the operation;
and
(b) the conduct does not involve the participant intentionally inducing a
person to commit an offence under a law of any jurisdiction or the Commonwealth
that the person would not otherwise have committed; and
(c) the conduct does not involve the participant engaging in any conduct
that is likely to—
(i) cause the death of, or serious injury to, any person; or
(ii) involve the commission of a sexual offence against any person;
and
(d) if the participant is a civilian participant—the participant
acts in accordance with the instructions of a law enforcement officer;
and
(e) the requirements (if any) prescribed by regulation have been
met.
(3) Any liability that would, apart from this section, attach to the
participant, attaches instead to the Territory.
20 Effect
of s 18 and s 19 on other laws relating to criminal
investigation
Section 18 and section 19 do not apply to a person’s conduct that is,
or could have been, authorised under a territory law relating to the
following:
(a) arrest or detention of individuals;
(b) searches of individuals;
(c) entry onto, or searches or inspection of, premises;
(d) searches, inspections or seizures of other property;
(e) forensic procedures;
(f) electronic surveillance devices or telecommunications
interception;
(g) identification procedures;
(h) the acquisition or use of assumed identities;
(i) any other matter concerning powers of criminal
investigation.
21 Effect
of being unaware of amendment or cancellation of authority
(1) If an authority for a controlled operation is amended in a way that
limits its scope, this part continues to apply to a participant in the operation
as if the authority had not been amended in that way, for so long as the
participant—
(a) is unaware of the amendment; and
(b) is not reckless about the existence of the amendment.
(2) If an authority for a controlled operation is cancelled, this part
continues to apply to a participant in the operation as if the authority had not
been cancelled, for so long as the participant—
(a) is unaware of the cancellation; and
(b) is not reckless about the existence of the cancellation.
22 Protection
from criminal responsibility for certain ancillary conduct
(1) This section applies to conduct (ancillary conduct) for
which a person may be criminally responsible because it involves conduct engaged
in by another person that is controlled conduct for which the other person would
(apart from section 18) be criminally responsible (the related
controlled conduct).
Examples—ancillary
conduct
1 aiding and abetting (see Criminal Code, s 45)
2 conspiracy (see Criminal Code, s 48)
Note An example is part of the Act is not exhaustive and may extend,
but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see
Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
(2) Despite any other territory law, a person who engages in ancillary
conduct that is an offence is not criminally responsible for the offence if at
the time the person engaged in the ancillary conduct—
(a) the person believed the related controlled conduct was being engaged
in, or would be engaged in, by a participant in an authorised operation;
and
(b) the person was a participant in, or was otherwise authorised to know
about, the operation.
Division
3.2 Compensation and notification of
third parties
23 Compensation
for property loss or serious damage
(1) If a person suffers loss of or serious damage to property as a direct
result of an authorised operation conducted under this Act by the Australian
Federal Police, the Territory is liable to pay to the person compensation as
agreed between the Territory and the person or, in default of agreement, as
decided by action against the Territory in a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person—
(a) suffered the loss or damage in the course of, or as a direct result
of, engaging in any criminal activity (other than criminal activity that is
controlled conduct); or
(b) was a law enforcement officer involved in the authorised operation at
the time of suffering the loss or damage.
24 Notification
requirements
(1) If any loss of or serious damage to property occurs in the course of
or as a direct result of an authorised operation (other than property of the law
enforcement agency on behalf of which the operation is conducted or a
participant in the operation), the principal law enforcement officer for the
operation must report the loss or damage to the chief officer of the law
enforcement agency as soon as practicable.
(2) The chief officer must take all reasonable steps to notify the owner
of the property of the loss or damage.
(3) The chief officer is not required to notify the owner of the property
until satisfied that notification would not—
(a) compromise or hinder the authorised operation; or
(b) compromise the identity of a participant in the authorised operation;
or
(c) endanger the life or safety of any person; or
(d) prejudice any legal proceeding; or
(e) otherwise be contrary to the public interest.
Division
3.3 Mutual
recognition
25 Mutual
recognition of corresponding authority
The following provisions apply, with any necessary changes, to a
corresponding authority under a corresponding law, and to a corresponding
authorised operation under that law, as if the corresponding authority were an
authority given under section 10:
(a) section 16 (Effect of authority);
(b) section 17 (Defect in authority);
(c) section 18 (Protection from criminal responsibility for controlled
conduct during authorised operation);
(d) section 19 (Civil liability not incurred);
(e) section 20 (Effect of s 18 and s 19 on other laws relating to criminal
investigation);
(f) section 21 (Effect of being unaware of amendment or cancellation of
authority);
(g) section 22 (Protection from criminal responsibility for certain
ancillary conduct).
Part
4 Compliance and
monitoring
Division
4.1 Restrictions on disclosure of
information
26 Unauthorised
disclosure of information
(1) A person commits an offence if—
(a) the person is a participant in, or is otherwise authorised to have
information about, an authorised operation or a corresponding authorised
operation; and
(b) the person discloses information; and
(c) the information relates to the authorised operation or corresponding
authorised operation; and
(d) the disclosure is not made—
(i) in connection with the administration or execution of this Act or a
corresponding law; or
(ii) for the purposes of any legal proceeding arising out of or otherwise
related to this Act or a corresponding law or of any report of any such
proceeding; or
(iii) in accordance with any requirement imposed by law.
Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person commits an offence against
subsection (1) in circumstances in which the person—
(a) intends to endanger the health or safety of any person; or
(b) is reckless about whether the disclosure of the information endangers
or will endanger the health or safety of any person.
Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 10 years.
(3) A person commits an offence if the person commits an offence against
subsection (1) in circumstances in which the person––
(a) intends to prejudice the effective conduct of an authorised operation
or a corresponding authorised operation; or
(b) is reckless about whether the disclosure of the information prejudices
or will prejudice the effective conduct of an authorised operation or a
corresponding authorised operation.
Maximum penalty: imprisonment for 2 years.
Division
4.2 Reporting and
record-keeping
27 Principal
law enforcement officers’ reports
(1) Within 2 months after the completion of an authorised operation, the
principal law enforcement officer for the operation must make a report in
accordance with this section to the chief officer of the law enforcement
agency.
(2) The report must include the following details:
(a) the dates and times when the authorised operation began and was
completed;
(b) the nature of the controlled conduct engaged in for the purposes of
the operation;
(c) details of the outcome of the operation;
(d) if the operation involved illicit goods, a statement (to the extent
known) of—
(i) the nature and quantity of the illicit goods; and
(ii) the route through which the illicit goods passed in the course of the
operation;
(e) details of any loss of or serious damage to property, or any personal
injuries, occurring in the course of or as a direct result of the
operation.
28 Chief
officers’ annual reports
(1) As soon as practicable after 30 July in each year, the chief officer
of each law enforcement agency must give the Minister a report setting out the
details required by subsection (2) in relation to controlled operations
conducted on behalf of the agency during the previous financial year.
(2) The report must include the following details:
(a) the number of standard authorities that were granted or amended by the
chief officer, and the number of standard applications for the granting or
amendment of authorities that were refused by the chief officer, during the
period to which the report relates;
(b) the number of urgent authorities or urgent amendments of authorities
that were granted by the chief officer, and the number of urgent applications
for authorities or urgent amendments of authorities that were refused by the
chief officer, during the period to which the report relates;
(c) the nature of the criminal activities against which the authorised
operations were directed;
(d) the nature of the controlled conduct engaged in for the purposes of
the authorised operations;
(e) if any of the authorised operations involved illicit
goods––a statement (to the extent known) of—
(i) the nature and quantity of the illicit goods; and
(ii) the route through which the illicit goods passed in the course of the
operations;
(f) details of any loss of or serious damage to property, or any personal
injuries, occurring in the course of or as a direct result of the authorised
operations;
(g) the number of authorities cancelled by the chief officer or that
expired during the period to which the report relates;
(h) any seizure, arrest and prosecution arising from the authorised
operations.
(3) The Minister may require the chief officer to give additional
information in relation to any authorised operation to which a report
relates.
(4) The details mentioned in subsection (2) must be classified into
controlled operations conducted in the ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more other
jurisdictions or in 1 or more participating jurisdictions.
(5) The report must not disclose any information that identifies any
suspect or a participant in an authorised operation or that is likely to lead to
a suspect or participant being identified.
(6) This section does not require particulars of an authorised operation
to be included in a report for a year if the operation had not been completed as
at 30 June in that year, but the particulars must instead be included in the
report for the year in which the operation is completed.
(7) The chief officer must advise the Minister of any information in the
report that, in the chief officer’s opinion, should be excluded from the
report before the report is presented to the Legislative Assembly because the
information, if made public, could reasonably be expected to—
(a) endanger a person’s safety; or
(b) prejudice an investigation or prosecution; or
(c) compromise any law enforcement agency’s operational activities
or methodologies.
(8) The Minister must exclude information from the report if satisfied on
the advice of the chief officer of any of the grounds set out in subsection
(7).
(9) The Minister must present a copy of the report to the Legislative
Assembly within 15 sitting days from the day on which the report is received by
the Minister.
29 Keeping
documents connected with authorised operation
The chief officer of a law enforcement agency must cause the following to
be kept:
(a) each standard application made by a law enforcement officer of the
agency;
(b) each standard authority granted to a law enforcement officer of the
agency;
(c) each standard amendment application made by a law enforcement officer
of the agency;
(d) each standard amendment of authority granted to a law enforcement
officer of the agency;
(e) each order cancelling an authority granted to a law enforcement
officer of the agency;
(f) each report of a principal law enforcement officer of the agency under
section 24 (1) or section 27.
(1) The chief officer of a law enforcement agency must cause a general
register to be kept.
(2) The general register is to specify—
(a) for each application under this Act made by a law enforcement officer
of the agency (including an application for amendment of an
authority)—
(i) the date of the application; and
(ii) whether the application was standard or urgent; and
(iii) whether the application was made for a controlled operation
conducted in the ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more other jurisdictions or in 1 or
more participating jurisdictions; and
(iv) whether the application was granted, refused or withdrawn;
and
(v) if the application was refused or withdrawn, the date and time of the
refusal or withdrawal; and
(vi) if the authority was amended, the date and time of the amendment;
and
(b) for each authority under this Act granted to a law enforcement officer
of the agency—
(i) the date and time when the authority was granted; and
(ii) whether the authority was standard or urgent; and
(iii) whether the application was made for a controlled operation
conducted in the ACT, in the ACT and 1 or more other jurisdictions or in 1 or
more participating jurisdictions; and
(iv) the name, and rank or position, of the person who granted the
authority; and
(v) each relevant offence in respect of which controlled conduct under the
authority was to be engaged in; and
(vi) the period of validity of the authority; and
(vii) if the authority was cancelled, the date and time of cancellation;
and
(viii) the date and time when the authorised operation began and the date
of completion of the operation; and
(ix) the date on which the principal law enforcement officer for the
operation made a report on the operation under section 27; and
(x) if the authorised operation involved illicit goods (to the extent
known)—
(A) the nature and quantity of the illicit goods; and
(B) the route through which the illicit goods passed in the course of the
operation; and
(xi) details of any loss of or serious damage to property, or any personal
injuries, occurring in the course of or as a direct result of the operation;
and
(c) for each amendment of an authority—
(i) the date and time when the amendment was made; and
(ii) whether the amendment was standard or urgent; and
(iii) the name, and rank or position, of the person who made the
amendment.
31 Inspection
of records by ombudsman
(1) The ombudsman must, from time to time and at least once every
12 months, inspect the records of a law enforcement agency to determine the
extent of compliance with this Act by the agency and law enforcement officers of
the agency.
(2) For the purpose of an inspection under this section, the
ombudsman—
(a) after notifying the chief officer of the law enforcement agency, may
enter at any reasonable time premises occupied by the agency; and
(b) is entitled to have full and free access at all reasonable times to
all records of the agency that are relevant to the inspection; and
(c) may require a member of staff of the agency to give the ombudsman any
information that the ombudsman considers necessary, being information that is in
the member’s possession, or to which the member has access, and that is
relevant to the inspection.
(3) The chief officer must ensure that members of staff of the agency give
the ombudsman any assistance the ombudsman reasonably requires to enable the
ombudsman to exercise functions under this section.
(4) The ombudsman must give a written report prepared under the Annual
Reports (Government Agencies) Act 2004, on the results of each inspection
under this section in the preceding financial year.
(5) The report must include a report on the comprehensiveness and adequacy
of the records of the agency and the cooperation given by the agency in
facilitating the inspection by the ombudsman of those records.
32 Evidence
of authorities
(1) A document purporting to be an authority granted under
section 10—
(a) is admissible in any legal proceedings; and
(b) in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof in any
proceedings (not being criminal or disciplinary proceedings against a law
enforcement officer) that the person who granted the authority was satisfied of
the facts of which he or she was required to be satisfied before granting the
authority.
(2) A document purporting to be an authority within the meaning of a
corresponding law granted under a provision of the corresponding law that
corresponds to section 10—
(a) is admissible in any legal proceedings in the ACT; and
(b) in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof in any
proceedings (not being criminal or disciplinary proceedings against a law
enforcement officer) that the person who granted the authority was satisfied of
the facts of which he or she was required to be satisfied under the
corresponding law before granting the authority.
(1) Except as provided by this section, and despite any other Act or law
to the contrary, the functions of a chief officer under this Act must not be
delegated to any other person.
(2) A chief officer may delegate to a senior officer of the law
enforcement agency any of the chief officer’s functions under this Act
relating to the authorisation of controlled operations (including the amendment
and cancellation of controlled operations and notifications under section
24 (2)).
(3) In this section:
senior officer means a person for the time being holding
office as—
(a) in relation to the Australian Federal Police––a deputy
chief police officer; or
(b) in relation to the Australian Crime Commission, any of the
following:
(i) the Director National Operations;
(ii) a Director;
(iii) an office of the Australian Crime Commission that is prescribed by
regulation.
34 Regulation-making
power
The Executive may make regulations for this Act.
Note A regulation must be notified, and presented to the Legislative
Assembly, under the Legislation Act.
(see s 3)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions
relevant to this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the
following terms:
• chief police officer
• function
• Legislative Assembly
• ombudsman
• territory law
• the Territory.
Australian Crime Commission means the Australian Crime
Commission established by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002
(Cwlth).
authorised operation means a controlled operation for which
an authority is in force.
authority means an authority in force under part 2
(Authorisation of controlled operations).
chief officer means––
(a) in relation to the Australian Federal Police––the chief
police officer; and
(b) in relation to the Australian Crime Commission––means the
chief executive officer of the Australian Crime Commission.
civilian participant, in an authorised operation, means a
participant in the operation who is not a law enforcement officer.
conduct includes an act or omission.
controlled conduct means conduct for which a person would,
apart from section 18 (Protection from criminal responsibility for controlled
conduct during authorised operation) or section 25 (Mutual recognition of
corresponding authority), be criminally responsible.
controlled operation means an operation that—
(a) is conducted, or intended to be conducted, for the purpose of
obtaining evidence that may lead to the prosecution of a person for a relevant
offence; and
(b) involves, or may involve, controlled conduct.
corresponding authorised operation means any operation in the
nature of a controlled operation that is authorised by or under the provisions
of a corresponding law.
corresponding authority means an authority authorising a
controlled operation (within the meaning of a corresponding law) that is in
force under a corresponding law.
corresponding law means a law of another jurisdiction that
corresponds to this Act, and includes a law of another jurisdiction that is
declared by regulation to correspond to this Act.
corresponding participant means a person who is authorised by
a corresponding authority to participate in a corresponding authorised
operation.
criminal activity means conduct that involves the commission
of an offence by 1 or more people.
illicit goods means goods the possession of which is a
contravention of the law of the ACT.
jurisdiction means a State or Territory of the
Commonwealth.
law enforcement agency means—
(a) the Australian Federal Police; or
(b) the Australian Crime Commission.
law enforcement officer—
(a) means—
(i) a police officer; or
(ii) a member of staff of the Australian Crime Commission; and
(b) includes a person who is seconded to a law enforcement agency,
including (but not limited to) a member of the police force or police service,
and a police officer (however described), of another jurisdiction.
law enforcement participant, in an authorised operation,
means a participant in the operation who is a law enforcement officer.
participant, in an authorised operation, means a person who
is authorised under this Act to engage in controlled conduct for the purposes of
the operation.
participating jurisdiction means a jurisdiction in which a
corresponding law is in force.
principal law enforcement officer, for an authorised
operation, means the law enforcement officer who is responsible for the conduct
of the operation.
relevant offence means—
(a) an offence against an ACT law punishable by imprisonment of 3 years or
more; or
(b) an offence against an ACT law that is prescribed by
regulation.
standard amendment application—see section
13.
standard amendment of authority—see section
13.
standard application—see section 9.
standard authority—see section 11.
suspect means a person reasonably suspected of having
committed or being likely to have committed, or of committing or being likely to
commit, a relevant offence.
urgent amendment application—see section 13.
urgent amendment of authority—see section 13.
urgent application—see section 9.
urgent authority—see section 11.
Endnotes
1 Presentation speech
Presentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 2008.
2 Notification
Notified under the Legislation Act on 2008.
3 Republications of amended laws
For the latest republication of amended laws, see
www.legislation.act.gov.au.
© Australian Capital Territory
2008
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