Part 1Powers to gather and share information

Power to remove documents for examination

5Retention of documents

1

A document may not be retained by virtue of section 1 for more than 48 hours without further authorisation.

2

A constable of at least the rank of chief inspector may authorise the retention of the document for a further period or periods if satisfied that—

a

the examination of the document is being carried out expeditiously, and

b

it is necessary to continue the examination for the purpose of ascertaining whether the document is one that may be seized.

3

This does not permit the retention of a document after the end of the period of 96 hours beginning with the time when it was removed for examination.