National Health Service Act 1977

9 (1) If a justice of the peace is satisfied, on information on oath laid on the Secretary of State’s behalf, that there are any reasonable grounds for suspecting that there are on any premises any documents of which production has been required by virtue of paragraph 8 above and which have not been produced in compliance with that requirement, he may issue a warrant under this paragraph.

A warrant so issued may authorise any constable, together with any other persons named in the warrant and any other constables—

(a) to enter the premises specified in the information (using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose); and

(b) to search the premises and take possession of any documents appearing to be such documents as are mentioned above, or to take in relation to any documents so appearing any other steps which may appear necessary for preserving them and preventing interference with them.

(2) Every warrant issued under this paragraph shall continue in force until the end of the period of one month after the date on which it is issued.

(3) Any documents of which possession is taken under this paragraph may be retained for a period of three months or, if within that period there are commenced any proceedings for an offence under section 57 above and this Schedule to which they are relevant, until the conclusion of those proceedings.

(4) Any person who obstructs the exercise of any right of entry or search conferred by virtue of a warrant under this paragraph, or who obstructs the exercise of any rights so conferred to take possession of any documents, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding [F1 level 3 on the standard scale], or to both.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38, 46 and (N.I.) S.I. 1984/703 (N.I. 3), arts. 5, 6