With the Commonwealth Games rapidly approaching, two major
pieces of State legislation have commenced, namely the Major Events Act 2014 and Police
Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.
Over the period 19/03/18-08/05/18, part of Damian Leeding Memorial Park is now a
Major Event Area and additional powers under ss.
18-20, 23-28 of the Major Event Act
apply, meaning that entry can be restricted, people entering can be searched along
with their possessions and vehicles prohibited.
New Chapter
19A: ‘Additional powers for Commonwealth Games’ of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 creates Protective
Security Zones, which surround many Major Event Areas. The Protective Security
Zones are active over various periods (see Schedule 1A:
‘Protective Security Zones’ of the Police Powers and Responsibilities
Regulation 2012) and are shown in Schedule
1B: ‘Maps of protective security zones’ of the Regulation.
Police will have additional powers within the Protective
Security Zones, in short:
- s. 619J Power to search persons – power to stop, detain & search a person or article in their possession entering or in a protective security zone
- s. 619K Power to stop, detain and search vehicles – power includes the ability to search anything in the vehicle entering or in a protective security zone or require the vehicle to be moved to another place for searching.
- s. 619L Power to enter and search premises – other than the part of a premises which is a residence – exemption for exceptional circumstances
- s. 619M Use of firearms and explosives detection dogs - power to search a person, premise or thing entering or in a protective security zone.
- s. 619P Power to give direction – Power to give a direction to person(s) entering or in a protective security zone (including in a vehicle) to move to a stated place or leave the protective security zone.
If attending any of the sporting events or entering a Major
Event Area, expect to be searched by an authorised person (security guard). I
would recommend that you don’t take large backpacks or bulky items to events.
The Games Road Network and Games Lanes will come into effect
shortly, which will restrict many roads on the Gold Coast. It is an offence to
drive in a Games Lane without authorisation and the Road Policing Command have
been tasked to keep them clear.
As in the classic saying, ‘Keep calm and carry on’ please
make the best of the games and remember that there will be congestion on both
the roads and public transport.
Andrew Lake
Senior Sergeant 6695
Oxenford NHW Liaison Officer
Share this post
