C1C9C10C14 Part II Powers of Entry, Search and Seizure
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) amended (26.4.2004) by Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32), ss. 16(1), 94; S.I. 2004/786, art. 3(2)
Pt. II incorporated (16.5.2008) by The London Gateway Port Harbour Empowerment Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1261), art. 52
Pt. II applied (8.3.2018) by The United Nations (International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/187), arts. 1(1), 16(1) (with art. 3)
Seizure etc.
C3C5C4C7C8C21C28C16C13C1422C14C2 Retention.
C6C12C19C11C23C20C181
Subject to subsection (4) below, anything which has been seized by a constable or taken away by a constable following a requirement made by virtue of section 19 or 20 above may be retained so long as is necessary in all the circumstances.
C6C12C19C11C20C182
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above—
C25a
anything seized for the purposes of a criminal investigation may be retained, except as provided by subsection (4) below—
i
for use as evidence at a trial for an offence; or
ii
for forensic examination or for investigation in connection with an offence; and
b
anything may be retained in order to establish its lawful owner, where there are reasonable grounds for believing that it has been obtained in consequence of the commission of an offence.
C6C12C19C11C17C20C183
Nothing seized on the ground that it may be used—
a
to cause physical injury to any person;
b
to damage property;
c
to interfere with evidence; or
d
to assist in escape from police detention or lawful custody,
may be retained when the person from whom it was seized is no longer in police detention or the custody of a court or is in the custody of a court but has been released on bail.
C6C12C19C11C17C20C184
Nothing may be retained for either of the purposes mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above if a photograph or copy would be sufficient for that purpose.
5
Nothing in this section affects any power of a court to make an order under section 1 of the M1Police (Property) Act 1897.
F16
This section also applies to anything retained by the police under section 28H(5) of the M2Immigration Act 1971.
C27C24C22C26C20C15F27
The reference in subsection (1) to anything seized by a constable includes anything seized by a person authorised under section 16(2) to accompany a constable executing a warrant.
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) extended (10.6.1991) by Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (c. 5, SIF 39:1), s. 7(1); S.I. 1991/1072, art. 2 Sch. Pt. I
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) applied (with modifications) (17.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1296, art. 16(1)
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) amended (17.5.1996) by S.I. 1996/1296, art. 16(7)(b)
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) applied (with modifications) (15.3.1996) by S.I. 1996/716, art. 16(1)
Pt. II (ss. 8-23) modified (1.9.2001) by 2001 c. 17, s. 33; S.I. 2001/2161, art. 2 (subject to art. 3)
Pt. II (ss. 8-23): Powers of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-54, 68, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para 1; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)(j)