ACT Police win power to search homes without warrant
ACT Police can now search homes and vehicles of high-risk individuals without a warrant under new firearm prohibition laws.
The ACT Legislative Assembly passed the Firearms Firearm Prohibition Orders Amendment Bill with government and Liberal support. The Greens wanted to require police to have good reason to search, but the amendment failed.
ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee said about 70 people could fall within the scheme. Most are suspected of serious organised crime, terrorism or high-risk domestic violence.
A Magistrates Court must issue the order, not police. Once issued, police can search the person's home, vehicles and storage without a separate warrant.
Officers do not need to suspect a crime has happened. The scheme starts 12 months after notice, likely by the end of 2027.
The Ombudsman will report quarterly and the law will be reviewed after three years.
- About 70 people
- Individuals affected
- 12 months after notice, likely end of 2027
- Implementation date
- 2 per cent of searches found firearms
- NSW discovery rate
- 13 firearms, 4 arrests
- Recent seizures
Why it mattersThe law lets police search homes without a warrant, raising questions about how much oversight is enough.
AustraliaACT residents, particularly those in high-risk categories, face new search powers. The scheme affects about 70 people in the territory and reflects national tension between policing powers and civil liberties.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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