Section 224 — Crimes Act 1961: Power of search for goods stolen or unlawfully obtained in transit

224 Power of search for goods stolen or unlawfully obtained in transit (1) This section applies if— (a) any member of the police has reasonable grounds for believing that any property that has been stolen or unlawfully obtained is— (i) in the possession of any person; or (ii) in any container, package, or receptacle; or (iii) in or on any aircraft, hovercraft, or ship or ferry or other vessel, train, or vehicle; and (b) the person, container, package, receptacle, aircraft, hovercraft, or ship or ferry or other vessel, train, or vehicle is— (i) in any airport or in or on any port or harbour or waterway; or (ii) in or on any railway or railway line or railway station or in any depot, terminus, or yard; or (iii) in or on any other place used between trips by vehicles engaged in the carriage of goods for reward. (2) In the circumstances specified in subsection (1) , the member of the police may, without warrant, search and detain for the purpose of searching the person, container, package, receptacle, aircraft, hovercraft, or ship or ferry or other vessel, train, or vehicle, and may take possession of any property described in subsection (1)(a) found during the search. (3) If it is necessary for any member of the police to stop a vehicle for the purpose of exercising the power conferred by subsection (2) to search a person who is in the vehicle, sections 314A to 314D apply with any necessary modifications as if references in those sections to a statutory search power were references to the power to search a person under subsection (2) . (4) Subsection (3) does not limit the application of sections 314A to 314D in respect of the stopping of any vehicle for the purpose of exercising the power to search the vehicle under subsection (2) . (5) Any member of the police conducting a search under subsection (2) may use reasonable force, if necessary,— (a) to break open any container, package, or receptacle: (b) to effect entry to any aircraft, hovercraft, or ship or ferry or other vessel, train, or vehicle. Compare: 1961 No 43 s 227A Part 10 (comprising sections 217 to 305) was substituted by a new Part 10 (comprising sections 217 to 272), as from 1 October 2003, by section 15 Crimes Amendment Act 2003 (2003 No 39).