Queensland Consolidated Acts

POLICE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT 2000 - SECT 179H

179H Restricting access to missing person scene

(1) Immediately after establishing a missing person scene, the responsible officer for the scene must take the steps the officer considers reasonably necessary to protect anything at the scene from being damaged, interfered with or destroyed, including, for example, steps necessary to—

(a) ensure people, including police officers, whose presence at the scene is not essential do not enter the scene; and

(b) prevent unnecessary movement inside the boundaries of the scene; and

(c) establish a safe walking area in the scene for reducing the risk of damage to anything that may be at the scene.

(2) A person, other than the responsible officer, must not enter the missing person scene unless—

(a) the person has a special reason, associated with the investigation, for entering the scene; or

Examples—

• a police officer removing someone from the missing person scene who should not be there

• a police officer investigating the disappearance of the missing person the subject of the investigation

• a person accompanying a police officer to assist in the investigation or who has special knowledge of the place that is relevant to the investigation

(b) the person is a police officer who is asked to enter the scene by the responsible officer or an investigating police officer; or

(c) the person is an authorised assistant; or

(d) the presence of the person is necessary to preserve life or property at the scene; or

(e) the person is authorised to enter by the responsible officer.

(3) For subsection (2) (e) , the responsible officer may authorise the entry subject to stated requirements.

(4) The responsible officer must ensure a record is made of—

(a) the name of each person who is present when the missing person scene is established or enters it after it is established; and

(b) when each person entered the missing person scene after it was established, and the purpose of the entry.