Biological Weapons Act 1974

4 Powers to search and obtain evidence

(1) If a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath, or in Scotland the sheriff or a magistrate or justice of the peace is satisfied by evidence on oath, that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under section 1 of this Act has been, or is about to be, committed, he may grant a search warrant authorising a constable named therein—

(a) to enter, at any time within one month from the date of the warrant, any premises or place named therein, if necessary by force, and to search the premises or place and every person found therein ;

(b) to inspect any document found in the premises or place or in the possession of any person found therein, and to take copies of, or seize or detain any such document ;

(c) to inspect, seize and detain any equipment so found; and

(d) to inspect, sample, seize and detain any substance so found.

(2) A warrant issued under subsection (1) above, authorising a constable to take the steps mentioned in that subsection, may also authorise any person named in the warrant to accompany the constable and assist him in taking any of those steps.