Police Powers Abuse: 33 Charged in Invalid Searches

Victoria Police has acknowledged that a number of its weapons search operations, conducted over the past eight years, were likely non-compliant with legal requirements. These breaches were uncovered through internal audits and inquiries from Guardian Australia, revealing at least 23 separate instances where police powers were used improperly. The non-compliant operations led to 33 individuals being charged or fined.

The issues stemmed from administrative errors, such as missing event details on public notices or failing to publish notices in the government gazette as mandated by law. While police state that the majority of searches were valid, they are now contacting the 33 individuals impacted to provide information on appealing charges or seeking reviews of fines.

In response, Victoria Police is informing the state's anti-corruption commission and has stated that strengthened processes are in place to prevent future occurrences. However, critics argue these compliance issues highlight concerns about granting increased police powers, emphasizing the need for accountability and robust oversight to protect community rights.