The Advanced Television Services Regulations 1996

Provisions supplemental to paragraph 4

5.—(1) An officer seizing any equipment, documents, records or information or any other thing under paragraph 4 above shall inform the person from whom they are seized that such equipment, document, record or information or other thing have been so seized.

(2) If a justice of the peace–

(a) is satisfied by any written information on oath that there are reasonable grounds for believing either–

(i) that any equipment, documents, records or information or any other thing which any officer has power to inspect under paragraph 4 above are on any premises (which may be premises occupied only as a person’s residence) and that such inspection is likely to disclose evidence that there has been a contravention of a relevant provision; or

(ii) that such a contravention has taken place, is taking place or is about to take place on any premises; and

(b) is also satisfied by any such information either–

(i) that admission to the premises has been or is likely to be refused and that notice of an intention to apply for a warrant under this sub-paragraph has been given to the occupier; or

(ii) that an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice, would defeat the object of the entry or that the premises are unoccupied or that the occupier is temporarily absent and it might defeat the object of the entry to await his return,

the justice may by warrant under his hand, which shall continue in force for one month, authorise any officer of an enforcement authority to enter the premises, if need be by force.

(3) An officer entering any premises by virtue of paragraph 4 above or a warrant under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may appear to him to be necessary.

(4) On leaving any premises which a person is authorised to enter by a warrant under sub-paragraph (2) of this paragraph, that person shall, if the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent, leave the premises as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.

(5) Where any equipment seized by an officer under paragraph 4 above is submitted to a test, the officer shall inform the person mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph of the result of the test and, if–

(a) proceedings are brought in respect of a contravention of a relevant provision for the forfeiture of the equipment concerned; and

(b) the officer is requested to do so and it is practicable to comply with the request,

the officer shall allow any person who is a party to the proceedings or has an interest in the equipment to have the equipment tested.

(6) In the application of this paragraph to Northern Ireland, the references in sub-paragraph (2) above to any information on oath shall be construed as references to any complaint on oath.