Singapore legislation
Section 22
Section 22
Power to search individuals
(1)
A police officer may, pursuant to a special authorisation, stop, detain, and search without a warrant, an individual and any personal property of the individual if —
the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds that —
the individual is the target person of the special authorisation; or
the individual is found in the company of the target person of the special authorisation; or
the individual is in, on or near a vehicle that the police officer suspects on reasonable grounds is the target vehicle of the special authorisation.
(2)
In addition, a police officer may, pursuant to a special authorisation, stop, detain, and search without a warrant, an individual who is in the target area of the special authorisation (and any personal property of the individual) —
with a view to ascertaining whether the individual is carrying a dangerous article, an offensive weapon or a subversive document, or part of a dangerous article, an offensive weapon or a subversive document;
if necessary to substantially assist in —
preventing the occurrence of a serious incident to which the special authorisation applies; or
controlling public disorder or restoring or maintaining public order in Singapore after the occurrence of a serious incident to which the special authorisation applies; or
if there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is committing or about to commit an offence under this Act.
(3)
Without limiting subsections (1) and (2), a police officer may, in conducting a search of any personal property of an individual mentioned in either subsection —
require the individual —
to produce or empty the contents of any bag, container or other receptacle;
to turn out the individual’s pockets; or
to remove one or more garments worn by the individual;
search through any bag, container or other receptacle or any garments removed in accordance with paragraph (a)(iii);
search through and move the contents of any bag, container or other receptacle; or
search through and move the contents of the individual’s pockets turned out in accordance with paragraph (a)(ii).
(4)
This section applies despite any licence or permit granted or issued, or any exemption made, under any other written law authorising the possession or use of such dangerous articles or offensive weapons.