The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a complaint that officers carried out an unlawful search while looking for a person they wished to arrest.
The investigation found that officers did not have reasonable grounds to believe the wanted person was at the complainants' house, before they entered and searched the property; they did not carry out the due diligence expected to confirm that there was a link between the wanted person and the complainant's address. Officers failed to clearly explain why they wished to search the complainants' home when asked, and also carried out the search unreasonably late at night. The investigation also found that the search methods used by the officers were generally inadequate.
Police met with the complainants to apologise. They also provided training on executing searches to all frontline staff. The officers involved went through an employment process and received appropriate outcomes.
The Authority agrees with the Police's findings and commends Police on its response to this complaint.
IPCA: 20-3748 & 20-3641