SurveillanceDevicesAct2004
Report fortheyearending30June2012
ISBN 978-1-922032-23-2
© Commonwealth of Australia2012
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CONTENTS
LISTOF TABLES iii ABBREVIATIONS iv CHAPTER1–INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER2–OVERVIEWOFTHESURVEILLANCE DEVICESACT2
ObjectsoftheAct2
Useofsurveillancedevices2
Surveillancedevicewarrants4
Formofwarrant5
Useofsurveillancedeviceswithoutwarrant5
Useoftheinformationobtained6
Accountabilityprovisions6
InspectionsandreportsbytheOmbudsman7
AnnualReporttabledbytheAttorney-General7
CHAPTER3–DEVELOPMENTS INTHEREPORTINGPERIOD8
Recentlegislativeandpolicydevelopments8
Judicialdecisions8
Effectivenessofsurveillance8
CHAPTER4–INFORMATION REQUIREDUNDERTHEACT9
Theinformationrequired9
Surveillancedevicewarrants10
Emergencyauthorisations13
Trackingdeviceauthorisations13
Effectivenessofsurveillancedevices14
CHAPTER5–FURTHERINFORMATION16
LISTOFTABLES
Table1–AvailabilityofFederalCourtJudges,FamilyCourtJudges,
nominatedAATMembersandFederalMagistratestoissuewarrants4
Table2–Numberofwarrantsissued11
Table3–Numberofapplicationsmadeforextensionofawarrant12
Table4–Numberofemergencyauthorisations 13
Table5–Numberofapplicationsmadefortrackingdevice14
Table6–Numberofarrests,prosecutionsandconvictions15
ABBREVIATIONS
AATAdministrativeAppealsTribunal
ACLEIAustralian Commission forLaw EnforcementIntegrity
ACCAustralian CrimeCommission
AFPAustralian Federal Police
CCC WACorruption and CrimeCommission (Western Australia)
CMC QLDCrime and Misconduct Commission (Queensland)
LEALaw enforcement agency
NSW PoliceNew South Wales PoliceForce
SA PoliceSouth Australian Police
SD ActSurveillanceDevices Act2004
SESSenior ExecutiveService
VIC PoliceVictoria Police
CHAPTER1–INTRODUCTION
1.1This isthe eighthAnnualReport on the SurveillanceDevices Act 2004
(theSD Act) andrelates to theperiod from 1 July2011 to 30 June2012.
1.2In this report:
Chapter2 outlines the objectives and structureof the SD Act
Chapter3 outlines relevant developments to the legislation and casesimpacting on its interpretation, and
Chapter4 provides information about theuse of powers under theSD Act.
CHAPTER2–OVERVIEWOFTHESURVEILLANCEDEVICESACT
2.1This chapterprovides anoverview ofthe SD Act,including:
an outline ofits objects
adescription of theprovisionsthat aremostrelevant to the contentsof this report, and
an outline ofthe accountabilityprovisions.
Objects of theAct
2.2TheSD Act represents model legislation and isintended to facilitate cross-border investigations and information sharingbetween Australian agencies.
2.3TheSD Actcomplements, ratherthanreplaces, existingState and Territory
laws. Accordingly, the SD Act does not prohibitthe useof surveillancedevices; rather, itauthorisesthe use of surveillancedevices wherethe usewould otherwise beunlawful.
2.4TheSD Act achieves these outcomes by:
a)providingasingle legislative regime for Commonwealth agencies to utilise surveillancepowers, and
b)authorisingState and Territorylaw enforcement agencies to use surveillance devices under theCommonwealth regimein defined circumstances.
Useof surveillance devices
2.5Surveillancedevices aredefined in the SD Actas:
a)data surveillancedeviceswhich includes anydeviceor program used to record or monitor the input into or out of a computer
b)listeningdeviceswhich includes anydevicecapable ofbeingused to hear, record, monitor orlistento conversations or words spoken but does not includeahearingaidor similar device
c)optical surveillancedeviceswhich includes anydeviceused to record visually or observeactivitybutdoesnot include spectacles,contact lenses orsimilar devices, and
d)trackingdeviceswhichmeans anyelectronic device capable ofdetermining or monitoringthe location of aperson or an objector the status of an object.
2.6Surveillancedevices maybeused byofficers ofthe following LEAs:
all State and Territorypolice forces
Australian Commission forLaw EnforcementIntegrity(ACLEI)
Australian CrimeCommission (ACC)
Australian Federal Police (AFP)
Corruption and CrimeCommission of Western Australia(CCC WA)
Crime and Misconduct Commission of Queensland (CMC QLD)
Independent Commission AgainstCorruption of New South Wales
(ICAC)
New South Wales CrimeCommission(NSW CC),and
PoliceIntegrityCommission of New South Wales(PIC).
2.7AnLEA mayapplyfor asurveillancedevicewarrant to assist in the investigation of a‘relevant offence’ which is defined as including:
aCommonwealth offencewhich carriesamaximum penaltyofatleast threeyears imprisonment
Stateoffences withafederal aspect whichcarryamaximum penaltyof atleast threeyears imprisonment, and
defined additionaloffences in the:
•Anti-MoneyLaunderingand Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006
•Financial Transaction Reports Act 1988
•Fisheries Management Act 1991, and
•Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984
2.8The additionaloffencesdo not carryminimumimprisonmentpenalties ofat least threeyears imprisonmentbuteither:
a)carrypecuniarypenaltiesthat aretheequivalent ofimprisonment terms of at least threeyears, or
b) areincluded in the SD Act becausetheyareoftenindicativeof moreserious criminal conduct.
2.9Theuse of surveillancedevices isalso availableto assist in the safe recoveryof a child who is thesubjectof a recoveryorder or anorder for awarrant of apprehension or detention of achild. An exampleis wherea child has been unlawfullyremoved from Australiato anothercountry.
Surveillancedevicewarrants
2.10TheSD Act provides thatan eligibleJudgeor anominated Administrative
Appeals Tribunal (AAT)member mayissueasurveillancedevices warrant.
2.11An ‘eligibleJudge’is a Judgewho has consentedin writing and been declared bythe Attorney-General to be an eligibleJudge. Duringthe reportingperiod eligible Judges included members of:
the FamilyCourt ofAustralia
the Federal Court, and
the Federal MagistratesCourt.
2.12A ‘nominated AAT member’refers to aDeputyPresident, senior memberor member ofthe AAT whohas been nominated bytheAttorney-General to issue surveillancedevicewarrants.
2.13In thecase of part-time senior members and members of theAAT, themember musthavebeen enrolledas a legal practitioner oftheHigh Court,Federal Court or Supreme Court of aStateor Territoryforno less than fiveyears to be eligible for nomination to issue surveillancedevicewarrants.
2.14Thetotal number of eligible Judges and nominated AAT membersavailablein the reportingperiod is presented in Table 1.
Table1–Availability ofFederalCourtJudges,FamilyCourtJudges,nominated AAT MembersandFederalMagistratestoissuewarrants
ISSUER / NUMBER ELIGIBLE09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
NominatedAATMembers / 43 / 46 / 38
FamilyCourtJudges / 8 / 8 / 3
FederalCourtJudges / 7 / 8 / 8
FederalMagistrates / 35 / 36 / 34
Total / 93 / 98 / 83
2.15As of30 June2012 therewere83 issuingauthorities,adecrease in thenumber from theprevious reportingperiod. The changeinfigures reflects thenormal operational changes within the respectivecourts and the AAT.
Form ofwarrant
2.16Generally,an applicationfor awarrant mustbein writing and be accompanied byanaffidavitsettingout thegrounds on which the warrant is sought. However, in urgent circumstances, applications maybemadebytelephone. In either case, the warrant takes effect onlywhen completedand signed bytheJudgeor nominated AAT member.
2.17Theinformation requiredfor awritten applicationmustalso be provided to a Judgeor nominated AATmember at thetime ofatelephone application and the applicant must supplythe relevant supporting affidavits to theJudgeor nominated AAT member within one dayof thewarrant beingissued. Wherethis legislativerequirement is notcomplied with, specific provision is made for the revocation of the warrant.
2.18A warrant takes effect when itis issued and expires on thedatespecified in it, beingno morethan 90 daysfrom the date it is issued, unless itis revoked earlieror extended. A warrant maybeextended or varied byaneligibleJudgeor nominated AAT member ifheor sheis satisfied that the grounds on which the warrant wasissued still exist.
Useof surveillance deviceswithoutwarrant
Useofsurveillancedeviceswithoutawarrant–emergencycircumstances
2.19Wherespecialcircumstances of urgencyexist, amember of anagencyat Senior ExecutiveService(SES) level orabovemayissue anemergencyauthorisation enablingtheuse of surveillancedeviceswithoutawarrant.
2.20An emergencyauthorisation mayonlybeissued when urgent circumstances existand:
thereisaserious risk to aperson orproperty
itis necessarytoassist inthe recoveryofa child who is subject to a recovery order, or
thereisa risk of loss ofevidence for certain serious offences such as drug offences, terrorism, espionage, sexual servitude and aggravated people smuggling.
2.21 Theuse of asurveillancedeviceunder such anauthorisation must be retrospectivelyapproved byaJudgeor AATmember within 48 hours of the authorisation beingissued.
Useofsurveillancedeviceswithoutawarrant–investigationpurposes
2.22 Optical surveillancedevices maybeused withoutawarrant wherethe device can beinstalled andretrieved withouteither enteringpremises or interferingwith the interiorof avehicle orthingwithoutpermission.
2.23In limited circumstances, listeningdevices maybeused withoutawarrantbya law enforcement officerwho is a partyto the conversation beingrecordedor is included in a class orgroup of persons whomthe speaker of thewords intendswill,or should reasonablyexpect would, hear theconversation.
2.24A trackingdevice authorisation maybeissuedbya senior member of theagency at least SES level or abovewhere the useof thatdevicedoes notinvolveeither entering premises or interferingwith the interior ofavehicleor thing withoutpermission. A trackingdevice authorisation mayonlybeissued in relation to the same offences for which surveillancedevicewarrants maybeissued.
UseofsurveillancedevicesoutsideAustralia
2.25TheSD Act allowsfortheuse of surveillance devicesin the investigation of Commonwealth offencesoccurringoutsideAustralia. With the exception of the investigation of certain offences in Australia’scontiguous and fishingzones,oneof the followingmustapplybeforethe surveillancedevicecan beused:
the consent of anappropriateofficial of theforeign countrymustbeobtained, and
if surveillanceis occurringon avessel oraircraft,consent must be obtained fromthe countryofregistration of the vessel oraircraft.
Useof the information obtained
2.26TheSD Act establishes astrict regimeto regulatethe use, communication and disclosureof informationobtained from theuse ofsurveillancedevices. Asageneral rule, allinformation obtained under asurveillancedevice andallinformation relatingto the existenceof asurveillancedevicewarrant is ‘protected information’ andmayonly beused for the express purposes set out in the SD Act.
2.27These purposes include:
the investigation and prosecution of relevant offences, includingbut not limited to the offence forwhich the surveillancedevicewasoriginallyused
information sharingwith national securityagencies
disciplinaryproceedingsforpublicofficers, and
the provision of mutual assistanceto other countries.
2.28These strict purposes strikethe appropriate balancebetween protectingthe privacyof theinformation obtained and providing appropriate mechanismsfor sharing information within Australia’s law enforcement community.
Accountabilityprovisions
2.29TheSD Act establishes arigorousreportingand inspection regimewhichallows the Ombudsman, theAttorney-General and theParliament to scrutinise the exercise of powers under theSD Act.
2.30 AllLEAs usingthe SDAct arerequired to maintain records relatingto theuse of surveillancedevicesand the useof surveillanceproduct. AllLEAs mustmaintain a register ofwarrants recordingdetails ofallwarrants and mustprovide a report on each warrant or authorisation issued under theSD Act to the Attorney-General.
Inspectionsand reportsbytheOmbudsman
2.31TheCommonwealth Ombudsman is required toinspect the records ofLEAs to ensure compliancewith theSD Act.
2.32TheOmbudsman must makeawritten report to theAttorney-General at six monthlyintervals ontheresults of each inspection. TheAttorney-Generalmusttable this report in Parliament.
AnnualReport tabled bytheAttorney-General
2.33TheSD Act requires thatthe Attorney-General table in Parliament a report settingout theinformation required bysection 50 eachyear. Chapter 4 ofthis report contains theinformationrequired to be presentedunder theSD Act.
CHAPTER3–DEVELOPMENTSINTHEREPORTINGPERIOD
3.1This chaptersets out theprincipal legislativedevelopments and judicial decisions relatingto theSD Act which occurred duringthereportingperiod.
Recent legislative and policydevelopments
ExtraditionandMutualAssistanceinCriminalMattersLegislationAmendmentAct2012
3.2Extradition and mutual assistance arekeyinternational crime cooperation tools. Mutual assistanceis theformal government togovernment process countries use to assist one anotherin theinvestigation and prosecution of criminal offences. The reforms in the Extradition and Mutual Assistancein Criminal MattersLegislation Amendment Act 2012 (theAct) focus ongovernment to government assistance and, with some veryminor exceptions, do notaffect forms of agencytoagencyassistance.
3.3TheAct amends theSDActto allow surveillancedevices to beusedfor foreign law enforcement purposes, followingamutual assistance request from aforeign governmentand theapproval of theAttorney-General, wherepreviouslytheywere restricted to use for adomesticpurpose. Theamendments onlyenable asurveillance deviceto be usedfor foreign purposes in instanceswherethe useofadevice could be authorised foradomesticpurpose.
3.4The amendments to the SDActalso enable Australiato request a foreign governmentto authorisethe useof asurveillancedevicein thatjurisdictionand arrange forthe information obtained to be sent to Australia.
3.5TheAct received the Royal Assent on 20 March2012 and willcommenceon
20 September 2012.
Judicialdecisions
3.6No significant judicial decisions relevant to theSD Act werehanded down duringthereportingperiod.
Effectivenessof surveillance
3.7State and Territorylaw enforcement agenciesgenerallyrelyon their own legislativeregimes fortheir useof surveillancedevices butareable to makeuse of the SD Act when investigatingaCommonwealth matteror duringajoint operation.
3.8Duringthe reportingperiod therewasan increaseof 9.2% in surveillancedevice warrants issued, with anadditional threeagenciesusingthis investigativetool.
3.9TheAFP reporteda22.2% increase in obtainingsurveillancedevice warrants. TheAFPobtained 496warrants duringthereportingperiod representinganincrease from406 in the2010-2011 period. TheACC againreported adecrease with131 warrants beingobtainedduringthereportingperiod representing adecreaseof 26.8 % from179 warrants obtained in the2010-2011 period.
3.10These results are consistent withoperational activities and indicate that surveillancedevices continue to bevaluableinvestigativetools.
CHAPTER4–INFORMATIONREQUIREDUNDERTHEACT
Theinformation required
4.1The annual reportingrequirements ofthe SD Actareset out in section50 of the Act, which provides that this report mustincludeinformation on:
(a)the number of applications forwarrants madeandthe number of warrants issued (paragraph 50(1)(a))in respect ofeach different kind of surveillancedevice (subsection 50(2))
(b)the number of applications for emergencyauthorisations made and the numberof emergencyauthorisations given (paragraph 50(1)(b)) in respect ofeach differentkind of surveillancedevice (subsection 50(2))
(c)the number of applications fortrackingdeviceauthorisations made and the number oftrackingdevice authorisations given (paragraph 50(1)(c))
(d)the number ofremote applications forwarrants made
(paragraph50(1)(d))
(e)the number ofwarrants, emergencyauthorisations or tracking authorisations refused(paragraph 50(1)(e)) and reasons forrefusal
(f)the number of applications for extensions of warrants made, the number of extensions grantedand the number of extensions refused,as wellas the reasons whytheyweregranted or refused (paragraph 50(1)(f))
(g)the number ofarrestsmadewhollyor partlyon thebasisof information obtained under awarrant,emergencyauthorisationor trackingdevice authorisation (paragraph50(1)(g))
(h)the number ofinstances in which the location andsaferecoveryof a child, to whom a recoveryorder related, was assisted whollyor partlyon the basisof informationobtained under awarrant,emergency authorisation or tracking device authorisation (paragraph 50(1)(h))
(i)the number ofprosecutions commenced in which information obtained under awarrant, emergencyauthorisation or trackingdevice authorisation wasgiven in evidenceand the number ofprosecutions which resulted in convictions (paragraph 50(1)(i)),and
(j)anyother information relatingto theuse of surveillancedevices and the administration of the SD Act that theMinister considers appropriate (paragraph 50(1)(j)).
4.2TheSD Act requires thechiefofficer of eachLEA to submit an annual report to the Attorney-General assoon as possible after theend of each financialyear and in any event within threemonths aftertheend of the financialyear. Thesereportsare compiled into this single report.
Surveillancedevicewarrants
Applicationsforsurveillancedevicewarrants
4.3Paragraph 50(1)(a) ofthe SDAct provides that this report mustset out the numberof applications forwarrants madeand thenumberof warrants issued during the reportingperiod. Subsection 50(2) further requires that the report set outabreakdown of thesenumbers in respect of each different kindof surveillancedevice. This information is presentedin Table2.
4.4 Duringthe reportingperiod,642 warrants wereissued to law enforcement agencies under theSD Act.1 This represents an approximate9.1% increasewhen compared to the 588 warrants issued duringthe previousreportingperiod.
1Section10providesthatsurveillancedevicewarrantscanbeissuedformorethanonesurveillance deviceormorethanonekindofsurveillancedevice. Forexample,awarrantmayauthorisetheuseof separatelisteningandtrackingdevicesforavehicle. Awarrantcanalsobeissuedforcomposite devices,beingdevicesthathavemorethanonefunction. Forexample,acompositedevicemay combinebothlisteningandtrackingdevicefunctions.
AGENCY / COMPOSITE MULTIPLE / OPTICAL / LISTENING / DATA / TRACKING / RETRIEVAL / TOTAL09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
ACC / Made / 189 / 172 / 129 / 1 / - / - / 1 / - / - / 1 / 5 / - / 4 / 1 / - / 3 / 1 / 2 / 199 / 179 / 131
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / 189 / 172 / 129 / 1 / - / - / 1 / - / - / 1 / 5 / - / 4 / 1 / - / 3 / 1 / 2 / 199 / 179 / 131
AFP / Made / 263 / 359 / 471 / 3 / 1 / 4 / 15 / 6 / 4 / 2 / - / 2 / 8 / 5 / 7 / 20 / 37 / 13 / 311 / 408 / 502
Refused / - / 2 / 6 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 2 / 6
Issued / 263 / 357 / 465 / 3 / 1 / 4 / 15 / 6 / 4 / 2 / - / 2 / 8 / 5 / 7 / 20 / 37 / 13 / 311 / 406 / 496
NSW Police / Made / 5 / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / 4 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 9 / 1 / -
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / 5 / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / 4 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 9 / 1 / -
VIC Police / Made / 3 / 2 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / 3 / 2 / 1
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / 3 / 2 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / 3 / 2 / 1
SA Police / Made / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 6 / - / - / - / - / - / 6
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 6 / - / - / - / - / - / 6
CMC QLD / Made / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / - / - / 1
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / - / - / 1
ACLEI / Made / - / - / 7 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 7
Refused / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Issued / - / - / 7 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 7
TOTAL / Made / 460 / 531 / 607 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 16 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 5 / 2 / 12 / 6 / 15 / 23 / 38 / 15 / 522 / 590 / 648
Refused / - / 2 / 6 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 2 / 6
Issued / 460 / 529 / 601 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 16 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 5 / 2 / 12 / 6 / 15 / 23 / 38 / 15 / 522 / 588 / 642
Remoteapplicationsforsurveillancedevicewarrants
4.5Section 15 of the SD Actpermitsan application for awarrant to bemadeby telephone, fax, email or othermeans ofcommunication if the law enforcement officer believes that it is impracticable to maketheapplication in person. Paragraph50(1)(d) of the SD Act provides that this report mustset out thenumberof remoteapplications madeduringthe reportingperiod.
4.6In thereportingperiod, no remote applications forawarrant undertheSDAct weremade.
Extensionapplicationsforsurveillancedevicewarrants
4.7Section 19 of the SD Actprovides that the law enforcement officer to whom the warrant was issued (or anotherperson on theofficer’s behalf)mayapplyfor an
extension of thewarrantforaperiod not exceeding90 daysafter its original expirydate. This application maybemade at anytime beforethe expiryof thewarrant.
4.8Paragraph50(1)(f)of theSD Act provides that this report mustset out the numberof applications forthe extension of awarrant that weremade, thenumberof extensions granted and thenumberofextensions refused duringthereportingperiod.
4.9Duringthe reportingperiod therewasa17.9% decrease in warrant extensions made. This information is presented in Table3.
Table3–Numberofapplicationsmadeforextensionofawarrant
AGENCY / APPLICATIONS09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
ACC / Made Refused Issued / 47
-
47 / 69
-
69 / 36
-
36
AFP / Made Refused Issued / 67
-
67 / 64
-
64 / 69
-
69
ACLEI / Made Refused Issued / -
-
- / -
-
- / 5
-
5
NSWPolice / Made Refused Issued / -
-
- / 1
-
1 / -
-
-
VICPolice / Made Refused Issued / 3
-
3 / -
-
- / -
-
-
Total / Made Refused Issued / 117
-
117 / 134
-
134 / 110
-
110
4.10TheACChas advised that extensionsof warrantsweresought to allow for continued surveillanceoftargets and criminal associates as ameans ofgathering further evidenceof criminal activities. TheACCalso notes that it sought extensions on occasionswhen no safeopportunitywasfound to installsurveillancedevices duringthe original warrant period.
4.11TheAFPhasalsoadvised that theyhavesought extensionsof warrants for similar reasons as the ACC.
4.12TheACLEIhasadvised theysoughtextensions as their investigation was ongoingand theextensionwas used togather further evidence.
4.13No applications fortheextension of awarrant were refused duringthe reporting period.This has beenaconsistent trend over previous reportingperiods.
Emergencyauthorisations
4.14Law enforcement officers mayapplytoanappropriate authorisingofficer for an emergencyauthorisationto use asurveillancedevicein cases of seriousriskto person or property(section 28), urgent circumstances relatingto achild recoveryorder
(section 29) or wherethereis a risk of loss of evidence (section 30). Within 48 hours of givingan emergencyauthorisation, the authorisingofficer(or another person on the officer’s behalf)mustapplyforapproval of thegivingof theemergencyauthorisation from an eligibleJudgeornominatedAAT member.
4.15Paragraph 50(1)(b) provides that this report mustset out thenumberof applications for emergencyauthorisations madeand the number of emergency authorisations given. Subsection 50(2) further provides that the report setout a breakdown of thesenumbers in respect of each different kind of surveillancedevice.
4.16This information ispresented in Table 4.
Table4–Numberofemergencyauthorisations
AGENCY / AUTHORISATIONS09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
AFP / Made Refused Issued / -
-
- / 3
-
3 / 2
-
2
Total / Made Refused Issued / -
-
- / 3
-
3 / 2
-
2
Tracking device authorisations
4.17In limited circumstances,the SD Act permits a law enforcement officer touse a trackingdevicewithoutawarrant in the investigation of a relevant offencewherethe officer has the written permission of an appropriate authorisingofficer.
4.18Subsections 39(1) and (3) permit a lawenforcement officer to useatracking devicewith authorisationin theinvestigation of arelevant offence and in thelocation and saferecoveryofachild to whom a recoveryorder relates.
4.19Paragraph 50(1)(c) provides that this report mustset out thenumberof applications fortracking device authorisations made and the number of trackingdevice authorisations given. The required information is presented in Table5.
Table5–Numberofapplicationsmadefortrackingdevice
AGENCY / TRACKING DEVICE AUTHORISATIONS / TRACKING DEVICE RETRIEVAL09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
ACC / Made Refused Issued / 15
-
15 / 17
-
17 / 9
-
9 / -
-
- / -
-
- / -
-
-
AFP / Made Refused Issued / 51
-
51 / 54
-
54 / 54
-
54 / -
-
- / -
-
- / 1
-
1
VICPolice / Made Refused Issued / 1
-
1 / -
-
- / 1
-
1 / -
-
- / -
-
- / -
-
-
Total / Made Refused Issued / 67
-
67 / 71
-
71 / 64
-
64 / -
-
- / -
-
- / 1
-
1
Effectivenessof surveillancedevices
4.20Section 50 of the SDActprovides that this reportmustset out thenumberof arrests, prosecutions andconvictions, together with the number oflocations and safe recoveries ofchildren, onthe basisof informationobtained usingsurveillancedevices. Collectively, this information provides an indication of the effectiveness ofthe useof surveillancedevices asalaw enforcement investigativetool.
4.21Paragraph 50(1)(g) provides that this report mustset out thenumberof arrests madewhollyor partlyonthebasisof informationobtained under awarrant,emergency authorisation or tracking device authorisation. Paragraph 50(1)(i) providesthat this report set outthe numberof prosecutions commenced in which information obtained under awarrant, emergencyauthorisation or trackingdevice authorisation wasgiven in evidenceand the numberof convictions.
4.22Paragraph 50(1)(h) provides that this report mustset out thenumberof instances in which thelocation andsaferecoveryof achild, to whom a recoveryorder related,
was assisted whollyor partlyon the basisof information obtained under awarrant, emergencyauthorisationor trackingdevice authorisation.
4.23Duringthe reportingperiod therewasan increaseinarrests, prosecutions, and convictions. This information is presented in Table6.
Table6–Numberofarrests,prosecutionsandconvictions2
AGENCY / ARRESTS / SAFERECOVERY / PROSECUTIONS / CONVICTIONS09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12 / 09/10 / 10/11 / 11/12
ACC / 49 / 30 / 25 / - / - / - / 5 / 4 / - / 4 / 4 / -
AFP / 58 / 47 / 112 / - / - / - / 38 / 50 / 125 / 20 / 10 / 25
VIC Police / - / 5 / 2 / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
CCCWA / 1 / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / 13 / -
Total / 108 / 77 / 139 / - / - / - / 44 / 54 / 125 / 24 / 15 / 25
Interpretivenote
4.24Thestatistics presented in Table 6 should be interpreted with somecaution, particularlyin presuming a relationship between thenumberofarrests, prosecutions (which include committalproceedings)and convictions in a reportingperiod. An arrest recorded in one reporting period maynot resultin a prosecution/committal (if at all) until a later reportingperiod and anyresultingconviction mayberecorded in that or an even laterreportingperiod. Moreover, thenumberof arrestsmaynot equateto the numberof charges laid (some or allof which maybeprosecuted at a later time) as an arrested person maybeprosecutedand convictedforanumberof offences.
4.25Further, thetablemayunderstate theeffectivenessof theuse of surveillance devices as, in somecases, prosecutions maybeinitiated and convictionsrecorded withoutthe need to giveinformation obtained through the useof asurveillancedevice in evidence. In particular, agencies report that theuse of surveillancedevices effectivelyenables investigators to identifypersons involved in, and the infrastructure of, organisedcriminal activities. In manycases, theweight of evidenceobtained through the useof asurveillancedeviceresults in defendantsentering guiltypleas, therebyobviatingthe need forthe information to beintroduced into evidence.
2TheNSWPolicewereremovedfromTable6astheyhadnildataforthelast3reportingyears.
3Thisconvictionistheresultofawarrantandextensionsgrantedduring2008-09.
CHAPTER5–FURTHERINFORMATION
5.1Furtherinformation of the SurveillanceDevices Act 2004can beobtained by contactingthe Attorney-General’s Department: