The Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994

Power to require the Concessionaires to promote searches in the tunnel system

14.—(1) For the purposes to which this Part of this Order applies, the Secretary of State may give a direction in writing to the Concessionaires requiring them to use their best endeavours to secure that such searches to which this article applies as are specified in the direction are carried out by persons of a description specified in the direction or by constables.

(2) The searches to which this article applies, in relation to the tunnel system, are searches—

(a) of the tunnel system or any part of it,

(b) of any Channel Tunnel train which at the time when the direction is given or at any subsequent time is in the tunnel system, and

(c) of persons and property (other than Channel Tunnel trains) which may be in the tunnel system.

(3) Where a direction under this article to the Concessionaires is for the time being in force, then, subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) below, if a person of a description specified in the direction in accordance with this article or a constable has reasonable cause to suspect that an article to which this paragraph applies is in, or may be brought into, any part of the tunnel system, he may, by virtue of this paragraph and without a warrant, search any part of the tunnel system or any Channel Tunnel train, vehicle, goods or other moveable property of any description which, or any person who, is for the time being in any part of the tunnel system, and for that purpose—

(a) may enter any building or works in the tunnel system, or enter upon any land in the tunnel system, if need be by force,

(b) may go on board any such Channel Tunnel train and inspect the train,

(c) may stop any such Channel Tunnel train and, for so long as may be necessary for that purpose, prevent it from being moved, and

(d) may stop any such vehicle, goods, property or person and detain it or him for so long as may be necessary for that purpose.

(4) In the case of premises used only as a private dwelling any power to search or enter conferred by paragraph (3) above may not be exercised except—

(a) under the authority of a warrant issued by a justice of the peace; and

(b) by a constable who is a member of a body of constables maintained in England and Wales by a police authority or an authority which has entered into an agreement with the Police Complaints Authority under section 96(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984(1).

(5) If, on an application made by a constable, a justice of the peace is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an article to which paragraph (3) above applies is in any premises used only as a private dwelling, he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises.

(6) Paragraph (3) above applies to the following articles—

(a) any firearm or ammunition or any article having the appearance of being a firearm, whether capable of being discharged or not,

(b) any explosive, any article manufactured or adapted (whether in the form of a bomb, grenade or otherwise) so as to have the appearance of being an explosive, whether it is capable of producing a practical effect by explosion or not, or any article marked or labelled so as to indicate that it is or contains an explosive, and

(c) any article (not falling within either of the preceding sub-paragraphs) made or adapted for use for causing injury to or incapacitating a person or for destroying or damaging property, or intended by the person having it with him for such use, whether by him or by any other person.

(7) Where an article to which paragraph (3) above applies is found during a search under this article, it shall be detained or otherwise dealt with in accordance with the requirements specified by the Secretary of State in the direction given under this article.

(8) Any person who—

(a) without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a direction given to him under this article or with any requirement specified in the direction referred to in paragraph (7) above, or

(b) intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of a power conferred on him by paragraph (3) above,

commits an offence.

(9) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (8) above is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.

(10) Where a person is convicted of an offence under paragraph (8)(a) above, then, if without reasonable excuse the failure in respect of which he was convicted is continued after the conviction, he is guilty of a further offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one tenth of level 5 on the standard scale for each day on which the failure continues.

(11) Paragraph (3) above has effect without prejudice to the operation in relation to any offence under this Order in England and Wales, of sections 17, 24 and 25 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (which confer power to arrest without warrant and to enter premises for the purpose of making an arrest) or of section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967(2) (use of force in making arrest etc).

(1)

1984 c. 60.

(2)

1967 c. 58.