The Act is the culmination of a review of police powers commenced by the CJC in 1990 and which arose out of a recommendation of the Fitzgerald Inquiry. The Act should reduce confusion as to the nature and extent of police powers. However police powers have been significantly increased.
Police have extensive powers to arrest, question, direct, and search people.
Queenslanders should know their rights under this Act. Police can in some cases search premises, vehicles or people without a warrant. The police may stop and search any vehicle at the roadblock, but a senior police officer must be present. The police can search a vehicle for any of the same reasons they can search a person, even though they don't have a warrant. They can also stop and search a vehicle if they reasonably suspect it is being used unlawfully.