Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

164 Power to search persons

(1) Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that any person to whom this section applies is carrying any article—

(a) which is chargeable with any duty which has not been paid or secured ; or

(b) with respect to the importation or exportation of which any prohibition or restriction is for the time being in force under or by virtue of any enactment,

any officer or any person acting under the directions of an officer may, subject to subsections (2) and (3) below, search him and any article he has with him.

(2) A person who is to be searched in pursuance of this section may require to be taken before a justice of the peace or a superior of the officer or other person concerned, and the justice or superior shall consider the grounds for suspicion and direct accordingly whether or not the search is to take place.

(3) No woman or girl shall be searched in pursuance of this section except by a woman.

(4) This section applies to the following persons, namely—

(a) any person who is on board or has landed from any ship or aircraft;

(b) any person entering or about to leave the United Kingdom;

(c) any person within the dock area of a port;

(d) any person at a customs and excise airport;

(e) any person in, entering or leaving any approved wharf or transit shed which is not in a port;

(f) in Northern Ireland, any person travelling from or to any place which is on or beyond the boundary.