Wednesday, March 25, 2009 » 10:27am

The NSW government is pointing to the fatal brawl at Sydney Airport on Sunday to justify new covert police search powers

New legislation passed on Tuesday will enable police to enter premises and conduct searches without informing the owners of the property, Police Minister Tony Kelly said

'These powers will allow police to attack the heart of criminal groups like outlaw motorcycle gangs to break down their criminal networks,' he said in a statement.

'Organised crime syndicates and drug traffickers are also some of the criminal groups that can have their premises searched without their knowledge.

'These powers are another valuable tool to help police in their fight against bikies.'

The new powers were criticised by the NSW Council for Civil Liberties earlier this month when they were first announced.

'The concept of covert search warrants is contrary to the basic tenets of the rule of law,' the council's secretary Stephen Blanks said.

The potential for abuse was extreme, Mr Blanks said.

'Police will be opening themselves up to allegations that they have planted evidence or tampered with evidence.'

The legislative changes are aimed at targeting particular crime areas, including: drug supply, manufacture or cultivation; firearm possession, sale or manufacture; money laundering; homicide; kidnapping; child pornography; and physical violence.

Mr Kelly said the search warrants would be subject to strict judicial guidelines.

'These warrants will only be available on application to the Supreme Court, and the judge who issues the warrant may authorise the owners not to be told of the search for up to six months,' he said.

Anthony Zervas, 29, the brother of a senior Hells Angel was bludgeoned to death during Sunday's Sydney Airport brawl which allegedly involved members of the Hells Angels and Comanchero gangs

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/National-Regional/2009/03/25/NSW_police_armed_with_new_search_powers_315382.html

what a farking joke

"'Organised crime syndicates and drug traffickers are also some of the criminal groups that can have their premises searched "

the way I read it it is like these two groups are nothing compared to the bikies, that they sort of have been lumped in together at the last moment

these groups must be rubbing their hands at this ..the focus is off them

no wonder we are becoming such a screwed country

"Mr Kelly said the search warrants would be subject to strict judicial guidelines".

Well I dunno about you lot but faaark that makes me feel a whole lot better...

And looking on the bright side, there surely couldn't be anything more to legislate... Could there...??? ...

Judicial guidelines ....that is funny given a nsw judge just got jailed last week for perjury hahaha

now how comical is it

agreed Bano..........there is a way to have a say or even make a change but to many are prepared to sit back and let this happen...........it will be too late soon........
but dont villify or rubbish those who actually care enough about our rights to TRY and do something about it....