Courts Security Act 1999

If you need more information about this Act, please contact the administering agency: Ministry of Justice

Version as at 30 November 2022

Coat of Arms of New Zealand

Courts Security Act 1999

Public Act
 
1999 No 115
Date of assent
 
14 October 1999
Commencement
 
see section 1(2)
Note

The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.

This Act is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

Contents

Title
1Short Title and commencement
2Interpretation
3Meaning of court and courtroom
Provision of court security officers
4Chief executive may appoint, or contract for, court security officers
5Appointment of court security officers
6Contracts for provision of court security officers
7Requirements of court security contracts
8Extension of court security contracts
9Court security officers, on completion of training, to have and show identity cards
10Courts in which court security officers may exercise powers and duties
11Courtrooms in which court security officers may be present
Right of public to enter and remain in court
11ARight of public to enter and remain in areas of court open to public
Powers and duties of court security officers
12Power to ask for identification
13Power to ask to search
14Duty of court security officer relating to searches
15Power to ask to examine detected items
15ARemoval or disposal of alcohol
16Power to seize detected items
17Power to ask to take detected items into temporary custody
18Duty of court security officer relating to taking of items into temporary custody
18AGeneral power to deny entry to, or remove person from, court
19Power to detain if court security officer has reasonable grounds to believe person may have committed specified offence
19APower to detain in other circumstances
20Powers to seize items and detain persons
20APower to pursue person
21Power to use reasonable force
22Consequences of denial of entry to, or removal from, court
23Duty of court security officer to inform of consequences when person denied entry or removed
Limits on powers of court security officers
24Powers not generally applicable to presiding judicial officers and other exempted persons
25Powers not generally applicable to persons in custody of certain agencies
26When powers applicable to persons in custody of certain agencies
27Powers not generally applicable in courtroom where proceedings being heard
28When powers applicable in courtroom where proceedings being heard
29Powers not generally applicable if Police or other agencies involved
Offence to obstruct court security officer
30Offence to obstruct court security officer
Immunities
31Immunity of court security officers
32Immunity of persons helping court security officers
Other related powers
33Powers of other officials: court security officers may exercise
34Powers of court security officers: Police officers may exercise
35Powers of other persons not affected
Regulations
36Regulations
Temporary provisions
37Application of temporary provisions in Schedule
Schedule
Temporary provisions in respect of COVID-19
Notes

An Act to provide for—

(a)

the security of courts and tribunals; and

(b)

the safety of the public and others who access and use courts and tribunals; and

(c)

the promotion of the orderly operation of courts and tribunals

Long Title paragraph (a): amended, on 14 November 2018, by section 4(1) of the Courts Matters Act 2018 (2018 No 50).

Long Title paragraph (b): amended, on 14 November 2018, by section 4(2) of the Courts Matters Act 2018 (2018 No 50).

Long Title paragraph (c): inserted, on 14 November 2018, by section 4(3) of the Courts Matters Act 2018 (2018 No 50).