I would not let them in my house without a warrant.
I wonder if their real goal is to see who starts bringing out a lot of trash or starts digging in their yard between the announcement and the home visits.
But you’re not surrendering “all privacy in all circumstances”. Rhythmdvl’s scenario explicitly says that you can turn them off at any time with no negative repercussions. So why wouldn’t you have one? I would hope it wasn’t just to assert some sophomoric sense of privilege.
Although I have nothing to hide regarding this kidnapping, I am not pure enough to have absofuckintively nothing to hide. The fireworks in the basement, the “vase” with the hose attached, etc.
I would politely refuse entry by the police, unless they had warrant in hand.
“A house around the corner was recently robbed- mind if we come in and look around, to make sure you didn’t commit the crime?”
“Our sources say that someone in the area is manufacturing illegal drugs. Mind if we search your house so we can cross you off our list of suspects?”
It’s a dangerous precedent, and I wouldn’t have any of it. When come back, officer, bring warrant.
If I can turn it off at any time, then sure, I’ll put in in my house and never turn it on.
ETA, well, on second thought, I might turn it on just to treat the cops to an occasional butt dance in my underwear.
Don’t have a child. If I did, I would hope that I retained the same thought that the cops are probably wasting their goddamned precious time and resources searching 6000 houses a month after the disappearance of an 18-year-old, intimidating my neighbors and thousands of people I don’t even know into opening their houses up without a warrant lest they be branded as “child”-haters or possible murderers.
And would you turn it on when a child is missing in your neighborhood?
Absolutely.
Thing is, this is an absolutely worthless tactic.
You think the guy who has the kid’s dead body in his freezer is going to give the cops permission to come in?
And I for sure wouldn’t allow the cops to search my house without a warrant, because while I don’t partake, certain members of my household have been known to use certain plants that may or may not be illegal to possess under various state and federal laws. Plus I’ve got a collection of animal skulls. I can imagine the cops taking one look at the cat and deer skulls on my shelf and deciding I’m some kind of twisted deviant.
And how many homes can they really search? I guess if they just poke their heads in and glance around, it could take 10 minutes. But to really search? Like, search enough to find evidence of a missing kid? A couple of hours. And they surely aren’t going to search hundreds of houses for a couple of hours this way.
It’s a pure stunt. It’s theater, to convince the public that the cops are doing something about the missing kid, when of course they aren’t doing anything, because there’s nothing they can do.
So given that, this is my response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYHfRQ6Nn1c&feature=related
The only rights you get to keep are the ones you stand up for. Searches like these are not productive, they’re media events agencies use when they have nothing else to go on, and I for one would refuse to participate in the sham unless compelled by a warrant.
You may be content to toss away your civil rights because standing up for them is occasionally inconvenient, others of us are not.
To fill in some knowledge gaps: Section 8 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure. A general Charter-compliant standard for a search is “reasonable and probable grounds” that are fact based. ETA: you can voluntarily consent to a search and seizure, which is what the cops are asking people to do, and you can also revoke your consent at any time. (“NO! Don’t look inthe closet!!!”)
The “missing child” is an 18 year old woman and not a minor now, but she was 17 at the time she went missing in September about two weeks before her birthday. She had just moved to Canada from the Republic of Georgia and does’t speak English well and does not have a lot of friends or family here yet.
Personally, if the police just want people to check their garden sheds and any nooks and crannies, that’s fine. They could turn up at my door, I’ll gladly tell them that I looked in the shed and in our furnace room and there was no trace of a missing teenager. I would not allow them into my home without a warrant, sorry. I am a firm believer in the Charter.
And cops who say “You may face a warrant…” well, okay, that’s a great big “MAY” there, and personally the veiled threat is not appreciated.
Not to add fuel to the fire, but I heard the police speaking about this situation on the radio this morning, and I clearly heard them state that "we have no suspect at this time.
That just means they haven’t narrowed it down to anybody specific yet.
They also have stated repeatedly that there is “no evidence of foul play”. So there wouldn’t be a suspect.
ETA: Although there was that bit last month when they said there were reports she was communicating with an evangelical priest in Toronto, originally from her home country, who it’s alleged has been trying to persuade teenagers from Georgia to cut ties with their families.
I was also very pleased to just read that the CCLA (Canadian Civil Liberties Association) is already getting involved 
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20091110/mariam_search_091110/20091110?hub=Toronto
Actually, you said this –
Nothing about what the cops say. Your only qualifier is whether a person could have committed the crime.
So, again. Do you trot yourself down to the precinct every time a crime is committed that you could have done, so as not to obstruct the investigation? Every day in every way do you actively pursue a course of action that helps the police eliminate suspects in whatever cases might be open? If not, then refusing to give up my constitutional rights is no hindrance either.
Read all my posts, don’t just cherry pick one. I said repeatedly that what puts you on the list is the police thinking you might have done it. Even in the post you quoted, I said anyone who could have done it, which doesn’t mean anyone at all, but anyone who had had some bare level of opportunity or motive.
Sorry for the late response…
First, if you are breaking the law, don’t let them in your house. Second, if you are breaking the law and the cops find out about it on an unrelated manner, you’re still breaking the law! What does it matter how you get caught?
Honestly, if we had this type of search in my neighborhood, and as a result of this search they find that my neighbor has a grow-op, or the guy down the street has child porn, GOOD!
Maybe you should organize one.
I should. I’ll call it neighborhood watch.