There is a very disturbing side to
the raids on Switched on Gardener
hydroponics store. We learn that the shops are reopening
on the condition
that staff require customers to produce photographic ID. This is presented as a condition for giving bail to the staff that have been charged.
This bail condition is a clear violation of the Bill of Rights provision against unreasonable search. Those on bail can be subjected to certain constraints, but those constraints cannot be extended to any customer walking into a shop. There is no legal requirement for customers to produce ID unless there is a law governing the sale of that particular consumer item – as with alcohol where it is reasonable for retailers to ask for the ID of those who appear under 18.
In this case the the Police are misusing their powers to require shop staff to help them in their surveillance of citizens purchasing items on sale to people of all ages.