Western Australian Current Acts

PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 2016 - SECT 244

244 .         Power of seizure

        (1)         In this section —

        record —

            (a)         means any record of information, irrespective of how the information is recorded or stored or able to be recovered; and

            (b)         includes —

                  (i)         any thing from which images, sounds or writings can be reproduced, with or without the aid of anything else; and

                  (ii)         any thing on which information is recorded or stored, whether electronically, magnetically, mechanically or by some other means;

        relevant to an offence , in relation to a thing, has the meaning given in the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 section 5;

        thing includes —

            (a)         any vehicle, plant or machinery; and

            (b)         any record; and

            (c)         any substance; and

            (d)         anything in, on or connected to a thing.

        (2)         This section applies —

            (a)         if an authorised officer has entered any premises under section 240; or

            (b)         in any other circumstances in which an authorised officer is performing functions under this Act.

        (3)         An authorised officer may seize any thing relevant to an offence under this Act if the officer reasonably suspects —

            (a)         the thing may be forfeited under Division 2; or

            (b)         it is necessary to seize the thing for one or more of these purposes —

                  (i)         to prevent it from being concealed, disturbed or lost;

                  (ii)         to preserve its evidentiary value;

                  (iii)         to prevent it from being used in the commission of another offence under this Act.