This paper presents the findings of a survey of 489 defendants appearing in Queensland Magistrates Courts. The survey was designed to collect information about police arrest, questioning and searching practices from the perspective of people who had been subject to the exercise of these powers. The primary objectives of the study were to identify any problems with current police powers and to establish baseline measures to assist in monitoring the implementation and impact of any new legislation. It was found that the results of the study generally align with the results of other research, and with anecdotal evidence. It is argued that a study of this nature is a valuable supplement to other information and could be employed elsewhere to provide jurisdiction-relevant data. When the regulation of police powers is reviewed, data of this nature are a potentially rich source of information for legislators.
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