Your Rights

This section relates to NSW law only. Other States and Territories may differ.

Police harassment and intimidation is unacceptable.

Police may try to intimidate you and may ignore your rights, especially if you are alone and vulnerable and there are no witnesses, so it's important to be prepared and know your rights and ways to make your beat experience safer:

* You have the right to use and be in a public place, at any hour of the day. You have this right without needing a good reason for being there, however you may be asked to 'move on'. The police cannot arrest you for simply being there.

* You have the right to carry safe sex equipment (condoms and lube). Police have been searching men for condoms and using safe sex equipment as evidence of intent to engage in public sex. It is not against the law to carry condoms. We are extremely concerned that this may lead to an increase in unsafe behaviour and spread of STI's and HIV. We strongly encourage beat users to practice safe consensual sex at all times.

* You have the right to ask police for their name and which station they are from. If asked, they must tell you. If they do not tell you, or cover their badge, make a note of the identifying letters and numbers on the side of the police vehicle.

* You have the right not to have identification on you. Police may ask what you're doing and if you have any identification when they approach you - this is standard procedure. In our experience, it's been easier to carry some, but it's not a legal requirement. The may do a background check.

Information has been obtained from legal advice.