Aviation Security Act 1982

7 Powers exercisable on suspicion of intended offence under Part I

(1) Where a constable has reasonable cause to suspect that a person about to embark on an aircraft in the United Kingdom, or a person on board such an aircraft, intends to commit, in relation to the aircraft, an offence under any of the preceding provisions of this Part of this Act (other than section 4), the constable may prohibit him from travelling on board the aircraft, and for the purpose of enforcing that prohibition the constable—

(a) may prevent him from embarking on the aircraft or, as the case may be, may remove him from the aircraft; and

(b) may arrest him without warrant and detain him for so long as may be necessary for that purpose.

(2) Any person who wilfully obstructs or impedes a person acting in the exercise of a power conferred on him by subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and 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.

(3) Subsection (1) above shall have effect without prejudice to the operation in relation to any offence under this Act—

(a) in England and Wales, of section 2 of the [1967 c. 58.] Criminal Law Act 1967 (which confers power to arrest without warrant) or of section 3 of that Act (use of force in making arrest etc.); or

(b) in Scotland, of any rule of law relating to power to arrest without warrant; or

(c) in Northern Ireland, of section 2 or 3 of the [1967 c. 18 (N.I.).] Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.