Immigration Act 1971

[F2 [F1 25D] [F1 Detention of ship, aircraft or vehicle] U.K.

(1) If a person has been arrested for an offence under [F3 section 25 [F4 or 25A]], a senior officer or a constable may detain a relevant ship, aircraft or vehicle—

(a) until a decision is taken as to whether or not to charge the arrested person with that offence; or

(b) if the arrested person has been charged—

(i) until he is acquitted, the charge against him is dismissed or the proceedings are discontinued; or

(ii) if he has been convicted, until the court decides whether or not to order forfeiture of the ship, aircraft or vehicle.

(2) A ship, aircraft or vehicle is a relevant ship, aircraft or vehicle, in relation to an arrested person, if it is one which the officer or constable concerned has reasonable grounds for believing could, on conviction of the arrested person for the offence for which he was arrested, be the subject of an order for forfeiture made under [F5 section 25C].

[F6 (3) A person (other than the arrested person) may apply to the court for the release of a ship, aircraft or vehicle on the grounds that—

(a) he owns the ship, aircraft or vehicle,

(b) he was, immediately before the detention of the ship, aircraft or vehicle, in possession of it under a hire-purchase agreement, or

(c) he is a charterer of the ship or aircraft.]

(4) The court to which an application is made under subsection (3) may, on such security or surety being tendered as it considers satisfactory, release the ship, aircraft or vehicle on condition that it is made available to the court if—

(a) the arrested person is convicted; and

(b) an order for its forfeiture is made under [F5 section 25C].

(5) In the application to Scotland of subsection (1), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

“(a) until a decision is taken as to whether or not to institute criminal proceedings against the arrested person for that offence; or

(b) if criminal proceedings have been instituted against the arrested person—

(i) until he is acquitted or, under section 65 or 147 of the M1 Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, discharged or liberated or the trial diet is deserted simpliciter;

(ii) if he has been convicted, until the court decides whether or not to order forfeiture of the ship, aircraft or vehicle,

and for the purposes of this subsection, criminal proceedings are instituted against a person at whichever is the earliest of his first appearance before the sheriff on petition, or the service on him of an indictment or complaint.”

(6) “Court” means—

(a) in England and Wales—

[F7 (ia) if the arrested person has not been charged, or he has been charged but proceedings for the offence have not begun to be heard, a magistrates' court;]

(iii) if he has been charged and proceedings for the offence are being heard, the court hearing the proceedings;

(b) in Scotland, the sheriff; and

(c) in Northern Ireland—

[F8 (i) if the arrested person has not been charged, or he has been charged but proceedings for the offence have not begun to be heard, a magistrates' court;]

(iii) if he has been charged and proceedings for the offence are being heard, the court hearing the proceedings.

(7) F9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) “Senior officer” means an immigration officer not below the rank of chief immigration officer.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 25A renumbered as s. 25D and title substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F2 S. 25A (since renumbered as s. 25D) inserted (3.4.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 38(2)(4); S.I. 2000/464, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F3 Words in s. 25D(1) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(2)(a) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Words in s. 25D(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1309), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(a)(iii) (with Sch. 1 para. 1(5))

F5 Words in s. 25D(2)(4) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(2)(b) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F6 S. 25D(3) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(2)(c) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F7 S. 25D(6)(a)(ia) substituted (1.4.2005) for s. 25D(6)(a)(i)(ii) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 109(1), Sch. 8 para. 147; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)(bb)

F8 S. 25D(6)(c)(i) substituted for s. 25D(6)(c)(i)(ii) (N.I.) (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 64(1) (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k) (with art. 3)

F9 S. 25D(7) repealed (10.2.2003) by virtue of 2002 c. 41, ss. 144(2)(d), 161, Sch. 9 (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. 3 modified by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 33C(6) (as inserted (1.11.2016 for specified purposes, 1.12.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 39(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, regs. 2(a), 5(c))

C2 S. 25D applied (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 146(3) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

C3 Ss. 25C, 25D applied (1.12.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), s. 5(4); S.I. 2004/2999, art. 2, Sch.; S.S.I. 2004/494, art. 2

C4 Ss. 24-29: amendment to earlier affecting S.I. 1993/1797, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (11.10.2017 coming into force in accordance with art. 1) by The Immigration (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/981), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 1 (with art. 6)

Marginal Citations

M1 1995 c. 46.