Review of Division 4, Part 3 of Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002: face coverings and identification report August 2013

In 2013 the Ombudsman completed a review of how police exercised new powers related to face coverings and identification (Division 4, Part 3 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002). Our final report concluded that police used the new power infrequently and, in general, appropriately. On seven of the eight occasions where police recorded using the new power, officers required that a Muslim woman remove her niqab, or face covering, so she could be identified. We recommended that the Attorney General consider amending LEPRA to allow for a female officer to be made available, where practicable, to view a woman’s face in these circumstances. We also recommended some changes to police policy to better inform officers about good practice when they require that a woman remove her niqab. \r\n\r\nA supplement to the final report which provides information regarding laws that police may use in NSW to require identification (see endnote 1 of the report) is also available below.\r\n\r\nWe also published an Issues paper during the review, which you can download through this link.\n\n**Note:** This resource was originally published on opengov.nsw.gov.au. The OpenGov website has been retired. If you have any questions, please contact the Agency Services team at [e-mail]\n\n**Agency**\n \n- New South Wales Ombudsman\n

2013年，新南威尔士州监察署完成一项审查，评估警方如何行使与面部遮盖物及身份核验相关的新权力（《2002年执法（权力与责任）法案》（Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002，简称LEPRA）第三部分第4分部）。本署最终报告指出，警方极少使用该项新权力，且总体上使用得当。在警方记录在案的8次使用该新权力的情形中，有7次是警员要求一名穆斯林女性摘除尼卡布（即面部遮盖物）以便对其进行身份核验。我们建议律政部长考虑修订LEPRA，规定在切实可行的情况下安排女性警员在此类情形下核验女性的面部特征。我们还建议对警方政策作出若干调整，以更好地告知警员在要求女性摘除尼卡布时应遵循的良好执业规范。

本报告的补充材料也可在下方获取，该材料介绍了新南威尔士州警方可用于要求身份核验的相关法律（详见报告尾注1）。

本次审查期间，本署还发布了一份议题文件，您可通过本链接下载。

**注：** 本资源最初发布于opengov.nsw.gov.au。该政务公开网站现已停用。如有任何疑问，请联系机构服务团队，邮箱地址为[e-mail]。

**负责机构**
- 新南威尔士州监察署（New South Wales Ombudsman）