Two officers of the Attorney- General’s department and three policemen arrived at the Spring Street centre five minutes before it was due to close.

At one stage police rushed to the rear of the building where papers were being burned in two rubbish bins.

Another detective checked an alley at the side of the building where a file had been passed through a window and placed in a car.

Police searched the building thoroughly and after more than an hour, carried the files away in a 30-cwt. truck.

These moves followed the Executive Council’s proclamation of sections of the Psychological Practices Act about mid-afternoon.

This empowered police to seize Scientology files and records on a warrant from the Attorney-General.