Australian Capital Territory Current Acts Australian Capital Territory Current Acts(1) The number of police officers that may be present during the carrying out of a forensic procedure must not exceed the number reasonably necessary to ensure that the procedure is carried out effectively and in accordance with this Act.
(2) A police officer who is of the opposite sex to that of the relevant person may only be present during the carrying out of a forensic procedure if—
(a) it would not be reasonably practicable to carry out the forensic procedure without the presence of the police officer; and
(b) there is no police officer of the same sex as the relevant person who, at the time the forensic procedure must be carried out, is available to be present instead of the police officer of the opposite sex.
(3) This section does not apply to the following forensic procedures:
(a) the taking of handprints, fingerprints, footprints or toeprints;
(b) any other non-intimate forensic procedure that may be carried out without—
(i) touching the relevant person; or
(ii) requiring the relevant person to remove any clothing (other than his or her overcoat, coat, jacket, gloves, socks, shoes and hat).