Immigration Act 1971

17 (1) A person liable to be detained under paragraph 16 above may be arrested without warrant by a constable or by an immigration officer. U.K.

(2) If—

(a) a justice of the peace is by written information on oath satisfied that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that a person liable to be arrested under this paragraph is to be found on any premises; or

(b) in Scotland, a sheriff, or a F1 . . . justice of the peace, having jurisdiction in the place where the premises are situated is by evidence on oath so satisfied;

he may grant a warrant [F2 authorising any immigration officer or constable to enter], [F3 if need be by reasonable force], the premises named in the warrant for the purpose of searching for and arresting that person.

[F4 (3) Sub-paragraph (4) applies where an immigration officer or constable—

(a) enters premises in reliance on a warrant under sub-paragraph (2), and

(b) detains a person on the premises.

(4) A detainee custody officer may enter the premises, if need be by reasonable force, for the purpose of carrying out a search.

(5) In sub-paragraph (4)—

• “detainee custody officer” means a person in respect of whom a certificate of authorisation is in force under section 154 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) (detained persons: escort and custody), and

• “search” means a search under paragraph 2(1)(a) of Schedule 13 to that Act (escort arrangements: power to search detained person).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 para. 17(2)(b) repealed (1.10.1996) by 1996 c. 49, s. 12(1)(3), Sch. 2 para. 7, Sch. 4; S.I. 1996/2053, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 17(2) substituted (11.11.1999) by 1999 c. 33, ss. 140(2), 170(3) (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F3 Words in Sch. 2 para. 17(2) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 63 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Sch. 2 para. 17(3)-(5) inserted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 64 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 para. 17 applied (2.10.2000) by 1999 c. 33, ss. 9(4), 10(7); S.I. 2000/2444, art. 2, Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in art. 3, Sch. 2 para. 2) (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

C2 Sch. 2 paras. 2-4, 7, 16-18, 21-24 applied (with modifications) (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, reg. 24(2) (with regs. 9, 28)

Sch. 2 para. 17 applied (2.10.2000) by S.I. 2000/2326, reg. 25(3)(a) (with regs. 9, 28)

C3 Sch. 2 para. 17 applied by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1003), reg. 24(1) (as substituted (1.6.2009) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/1117), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 10(a))

C4 Sch. 2 para. 17 applied by 1999 c. 33, s. 10(9)(c) (as substituted (20.10.2014) by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), ss. 1, 75(3); S.I. 2014/2771, art. 2(a) (with arts. 9-11) (as amended (2.3.2015 and 6.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/371, arts. 1(2)(3), 7, 8; and with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/2928, art. 2 (which S.I. is revoked (6.4.2015) by S.I. 2015/371, arts. 1(3), 9)))

C5 Sch. 2 Pt. I applied (1.2.2017 for specified purposes) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1052), regs. 1(2)(b), 40(4)

C6 Sch. 2 para. 17 applied (1.2.2017 for specified purposes) by The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1052), regs. 1(2)(b), 32(1), 40(7), 41(7)

C7 Sch. 2 paras. 16-18A applied (with modifications) (31.1.2020) by The Immigration (Citizens’ Rights Appeals) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/61), reg. 1(2), Sch. 3 para. 2(1)(a)(2)

C8 Sch. 2 paras. 17-18A applied by S.I. 2016/1052, reg. 32(6) (as amended (28.9.2023) by Illegal Migration Act 2023 (c. 37), ss. 12(6), 68(1) (with s. 55(9)); S.I. 2023/989, reg. 2(a)

C9 Sch. 2 para. 17(1) amended (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, arts. 6, 1, Sch. 3 Pt. 1 para. 2(2)(a); Sch. 2 para. 17 amended by the said S.I. 1993/1813, arts. 6, 7, Sch. 3 para. 2, Sch. 4 as incorporated (with modifications) (1.12.1997) by S.I. 1994/1405, arts. 6, 8, Sch. 3 para. 3, Sch. 4 para. 11 Table