Immigration Act 1971

[F1 28D Entry and search of premises. U.K.

(1) If, on an application made by an immigration officer, a justice of the peace is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that—

(a) a relevant offence has been committed,

(b) there is material on premises specified in the application which is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation of the offence,

(c) the material is likely to be relevant evidence,

(d) the material does not consist of or include items subject to legal privilege, excluded material or special procedure material, and

(e) any of the conditions specified in subsection (2) applies,

he may issue a warrant authorising an immigration officer to enter and search the premises.

(2) The conditions are that—

(a) it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant entry to the premises;

(b) it is practicable to communicate with a person entitled to grant entry to the premises but it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant access to the evidence;

(c) entry to the premises will not be granted unless a warrant is produced;

(d) the purpose of a search may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless an immigration officer arriving at the premises can secure immediate entry to them.

(3) An immigration officer may seize and retain anything for which a search has been authorised under subsection (1).

(4) “Relevant offence” means an offence under section 24(1)(a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f), [F2 24A, [F3 24B, ] 25, 25A, 25B][F4 , 26A or 26B].

(5) In relation to England and Wales, expressions which are given a meaning by the M1 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 have the same meaning when used in this section.

(6) In relation to Northern Ireland, expressions which are given a meaning by the M2 Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 have the same meaning when used in this section.

(7) In the application of subsection (1) to Scotland—

(a) read the reference to a justice of the peace as a reference to the sheriff or a justice of the peace; and

(b) in paragraph (d), omit the reference to excluded material and special procedure material.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 28D inserted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 131; S.I. 2000/168, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)

F2 Words in s. 28D(4) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(6) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F3 Word in s. 28D(4) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 34(7), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(e) (with transitional provision in S.I. 2016/712, art. 2)

F4 Words in s. 28D(4) inserted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 150(3) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Pt. III 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. 28D modified (1.5.2004) by The Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1219), reg. 9(11)(a)

C3 S. 28D modified (22.9.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), ss. 2(11)(a), 48(1)

C4 S. 28D modified (1.1.2007) by The Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3317), reg. 15(a)

C5 S. 28D modified (29.2.2008) by Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), ss. 21(3)(a), 62; S.I. 2008/310, art. 2(1) (subject to art. 5)

C6 S. 28D modified by Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33), s. 109B(1)(a) (as inserted (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 18, 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2)

S. 28D modified (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 23(2)(a), 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2

C7 S. 28D modified (1.7.2013) by The Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1460), regs. 1(1), 15(3)(a), 18(a) (with reg. 11(8))

C8 S. 28D modified (1.7.2013) by The Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1460), regs. 1(1), 18(a) (with reg. 11(8))

C9 S. 28D 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))

C10 S. 28D(3): powers of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-55, 68, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 15; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2

S. 28D(3) modified (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 55, 68, Sch. 1 Pt. 3 para. 95 (with s. 57(3)); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 1984 c. 60.

M2 S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12).