Powers of entry, search and seizure

37Power to enter and search vehicles

(1)

This section applies where—

(a)

a police or customs officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that there is relevant evidence in a vehicle, and

(b)

the vehicle is not a dwelling.

(2)

The officer may at any time—

(a)

enter the vehicle and search it for relevant evidence;

(b)

stop and detain the vehicle for the purposes of entering and searching it.

(3)

Where—

(a)

a police or customs officer has stopped a vehicle under this section, and

(b)

the officer considers that it would be impracticable to search the vehicle in the place where it has stopped,

the officer may require the vehicle to be taken to such place as the officer directs to enable the vehicle to be searched.

(4)

A police or customs officer may require—

(a)

any person travelling in a vehicle, or

(b)

the registered keeper of a vehicle,

to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person's control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of any power conferred by this section.

(5)

The powers conferred by this section may be exercised in any place to which the officer lawfully has access (whether or not it is a place to which the public has access).

(6)

In this section “vehicle” does not include any vessel or aircraft.

(7)

For provision conferring additional powers to enter and search vehicles, see section 39.