Internal Security Act 1960 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2 · General Provisions Relating to Internal Security
28. Powers of search and seizure of documents
Feedback & supportAny police officer may, without warrant and with or without assistance —
police officer
“police officer” includes an auxiliary police officer and a special police officer appointed in accordance with any written law for the time being in force;
enter and search any premises;
stop and search any vehicle, vessel, train, aircraft or individual, whether in a public place or not,if he suspects that any document, publication, material or article being evidence of the commission of an offence under this Chapter is likely to be found in such vehicle, vessel, train, aircraft or on such individual, and may seize any document, publication, material or article so found.
Any document, publication, material or article seized under subsection (1) shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the Commissioner of Police may order.
document
“document” includes any substance on which is recorded any matter, whether by letters, figures, marks, pictorial or other representation, or by more than one of these means;
The Commissioner of Police shall, on making an order under subsection (2), if he has reason to believe that the owner, or person who was in possession immediately before such document, publication, material or article was seized, is in Singapore, cause a notice to be served on that person informing him of the terms of the order.
Commissioner of Police
“Commissioner of Police” includes the Deputy Commissioner of Police and any gazetted police officer for the time being lawfully authorised to exercise the powers and perform the duties conferred or imposed upon the Commissioner of Police by this Act;
Any person aggrieved by an order made under subsection (2) may appeal against the order to the Minister:Provided that no appeal against the order shall be allowed unless notice of appeal in writing, together with the reasons for the appeal, is given to the Commissioner of Police and to the Minister within 14 days of service of notice of the order under subsection (3).
Minister
“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for internal security;
Where an order has been made under subsection (2) it shall only be carried into effect if the order has not been appealed against or if any appeal against the order has been dismissed or abandoned.
No woman shall be searched under this section except by a woman.