The courts have powers under various Acts of Parliament to issue a warrant or written authority for the police or other government officials to enter buildings or other property to make arrests, or to investigate or prevent various offences, or to obtain evidence or information.

For example:

• the Search and Surveillance Act 2012
• the Fisheries Act 1996
• the Tax Administration Act 1994, and
• the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.

Other state officials, like Customs Officers and Fisheries Officers, also have search powers.

Search and Surveillance Act 2012, ss 103, 131

You have to let the police come in if they have an entry warrant issued by a judge or other court official.

The police have to have the warrant with them and you have a right to see it if you ask to. This will allow you to check that the police are keeping to the terms and restrictions stated in the warrant and also to get other relevant information, such as:

• the name of the Act the warrant is issued under and what the alleged offence is
• the scope of the warrant – that is, who or what the police are looking for and where they’re allowed to search
• the date the warrant expires (the police can’t use the warrant if the expiry date has already passed).

Search and Surveillance Act 2012, s 118

If you arrive home and find the police there carrying out a search with a warrant, they can hold you there for a reasonable time while they’re doing the search.