Police acknowledge the findings of a report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) following a complaint by the owners of a motel business in Warkworth over the release of personal information in 2017.
The property had previously been identified by Police in Warkworth as a location of interest for criminal activity.
On December 6th, 2016, Police officers stopped and searched a vehicle seen leaving the motel and seized Cannabis. The occupants told Police they had purchased drugs from someone at the motel.
Police searched parts of the motel and located quantities of Methamphetamine and Cannabis.
One of the motel business owners and a second person were arrested and the motel business owner pleaded guilty to drug-related charges.
The IPCA found that while a search of one of the units where the two people resided was lawful, the search of a second unit and a further area in the motel were unlawful.
