❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the seizure of mobile phones from climate activists in Karratha. The Minister confirms the seizure was part of a criminal investigation and the phones will be returned.
AnsweredQoN 1564Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE — CLIMATE
ACTIVISTS
1564. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to an article in WAtoday of
Tuesday, 28 November titled ''WA Police slammed for 'unlawful'
seizure of WA campaigners' phones''.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that five mobile telephones were seized from climate
campaigners during a traffic stop on Tuesday morning in Karratha and provide
the reasons for the seizure?
(2) Will the
personal phones be returned to the campaigners they were seized from?
(3) If no to (2),
given that these devices are essential for the employment and personal lives of
the individuals that they were seized from, will the police refund the purchase
price?
(4) According to the article, the only specific ground
given for stopping and searching the vehicle, the seizure of the devices
and the move-on notices was that one of the individuals in a vehicle was
wearing a ''Disrupt Burrup Hub'' T-shirt; therefore, can the
minister please outline which legislation gives the police the power to
prohibit the display of insignia relating to this group?
ACTIVISTS
1564. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to an article in WAtoday of
Tuesday, 28 November titled ''WA Police slammed for 'unlawful'
seizure of WA campaigners' phones''.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that five mobile telephones were seized from climate
campaigners during a traffic stop on Tuesday morning in Karratha and provide
the reasons for the seizure?
(2) Will the
personal phones be returned to the campaigners they were seized from?
(3) If no to (2),
given that these devices are essential for the employment and personal lives of
the individuals that they were seized from, will the police refund the purchase
price?
(4) According to the article, the only specific ground
given for stopping and searching the vehicle, the seizure of the devices
and the move-on notices was that one of the individuals in a vehicle was
wearing a ''Disrupt Burrup Hub'' T-shirt; therefore, can the
minister please outline which legislation gives the police the power to
prohibit the display of insignia relating to this group?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises as
follows.
(1) Karratha
Police seized five mobile phones from the occupants of a vehicle on Tuesday
morning. The phones were seized as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
(2) Arrangements are being made to
return the mobile phones to the owners.
(3) The mobile phones were seized
lawfully utilising the Criminal Investigation Act.
(4) WA police have taken no action
to prohibit the display of any insignia in this matter.
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises as
follows.
(1) Karratha
Police seized five mobile phones from the occupants of a vehicle on Tuesday
morning. The phones were seized as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
(2) Arrangements are being made to
return the mobile phones to the owners.
(3) The mobile phones were seized
lawfully utilising the Criminal Investigation Act.
(4) WA police have taken no action
to prohibit the display of any insignia in this matter.
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