16(1)Where a person exercises the right under paragraph 15(6) to consult a solicitor, a police officer of at least the rank of superintendent may, if it appears to the officer to be necessary on one of the grounds mentioned in sub-paragraph (3), direct that—U.K.
(a)the person may not consult the solicitor who attends for the purpose of the consultation, or who would so attend but for the giving of the direction, but
(b)the person may consult a different solicitor of the person’s choosing.
(2)A direction under this paragraph may be given before or after a detained person’s consultation with a solicitor has started (and, if given after it has started, the right to further consult that solicitor ceases on the giving of the direction).
(3)The grounds mentioned in paragraph 15(4) and (7) and in sub-paragraph (1) are—
(a)that it is in the interests of the investigation or prevention of crime;
(b)that it is in the interests of the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of offenders;
(c)that it will further the recovery of property obtained as a result of an indictable offence;
(d)that it will further the operation of Part 2, 3 or 4 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (confiscation of the proceeds of an offence).
(4)This sub-paragraph applies where an officer mentioned in paragraph 15(4) or (7) has reasonable grounds for believing that—
(a)the detained person has benefited from their criminal conduct, and
(b)the recovery of the value of the property constituting the benefit will be hindered by—
(i)informing the named person of the detained person’s detention (in the case of an authorisation under paragraph 15(4)), or
(ii)the exercise of the entitlement under paragraph 15(6) (in the case of an authorisation under paragraph 15(7)).
(5)For the purposes of sub-paragraph (4), whether the detained person has benefited from their criminal conduct is to be decided in accordance with Part 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
(6)Where delay is authorised in the exercising of any of the rights mentioned in paragraph 15(1) and (6)—
(a)if the authorisation is given orally, the person giving it must confirm it in writing as soon as is reasonably practicable,
(b)the detained person must be told the reason for the delay as soon as is reasonably practicable, and
(c)the reason must be recorded as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 6 para. 16 not in force at Royal Assent, see 100(1)
I2Sch. 6 para. 16 in force at 20.12.2023 by S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)