Key Takeaways
- The Victorian police have been granted expanded search powers in the Melbourne CBD, allowing them to stop and search anyone without a warrant or reasonable grounds.
- The new powers have been criticized by human rights and legal groups as a "vast overreach" of authority.
- A journalist experienced the new powers firsthand while covering a protest in Melbourne, being searched by police without a warrant.
- The search was relatively straightforward, but the journalist notes that it could have turned hostile or been confronting for some people.
- The police found a single knuckle duster through the warrantless searches, but did not clarify how many searches they conducted.
Introduction to the New Search Powers
The Victorian police have recently been granted expanded search powers in the Melbourne CBD, allowing them to stop and search anyone without a warrant or reasonable grounds. This new power has been criticized by human rights and legal groups as a "vast overreach" of authority. The area has been designated as a "designated area" for six months, during which time police and protective service officers (PSOs) can randomly stop and search or pat down anyone. This new power has raised concerns about the potential for abuse and the impact on individuals’ rights and freedoms.
A Journalist’s Experience with the New Search Powers
A journalist from Guardian Australia experienced the new powers firsthand while covering a protest in Melbourne. The journalist was standing alone with their video gear just inside Flinders Street station when two officers approached them. The officers asked the journalist if they knew that they were allowed to search them without a warrant, and the journalist replied that they were aware of the new powers. The officers then proceeded to search the journalist, using a metal detector to scan their body and asking them to rummage through their bag. The search was relatively straightforward, but the journalist notes that it could have turned hostile or been confronting for some people.
The Protest and the Police Presence
The protest that the journalist was covering was the Put Australia First Rally, which was attended by around 700 people. However, at the time of the search, there were only around 200 protesters present, and easily as many officers. The protesters were huddled together under the cover outside the station, wearing soggy Australian flags and listening to rock music with offensive lyrics. The police had formed a boundary around the mostly empty intersection in front of Flinders Street station, and the atmosphere was tense. The journalist notes that they could see how a random street search could quickly turn hostile, especially for people who are not used to dealing with strangers in positions of power.
The Search and its Aftermath
The search of the journalist was relatively brief, lasting only a few minutes. The officers handed the journalist a print-out explaining the new powers and warned them to "be careful" around the protesters. The journalist notes that they were not sure what direction the officers had been given in terms of who to search or pat down, but they wondered if it was based on appearance or some other factor. The police found a single knuckle duster through the warrantless searches, but did not clarify how many searches they conducted. The journalist notes that the experience was mainly just awkward, but they can see how it could have been much worse for someone else.
Conclusion and Concerns
The new search powers granted to the Victorian police have raised concerns about the potential for abuse and the impact on individuals’ rights and freedoms. The experience of the journalist who was searched without a warrant highlights the potential for the power to be used in a way that is confrontational or hostile. The fact that the police found only a single knuckle duster through the warrantless searches raises questions about the effectiveness and proportionality of the new powers. The journalist notes that they can see how a random street search could quickly turn hostile, especially for people who are not used to dealing with strangers in positions of power. As the designated area remains in place for the next six months, it will be important to monitor the use of these new powers and ensure that they are not being used to unfairly target or intimidate certain groups or individuals.