PART 2INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS
Application of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 19843
1
This article applies in relation to England and Wales.
2
Subject to the modifications in paragraphs (3) and (4) and articles 4 to 11, the provisions of the Act specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to this Order shall apply in relation to investigations conducted by immigration officers.
3
Those provisions shall apply in relation to investigations conducted by immigration officers as if the words and phrases in Column 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to this Order were replaced by the substitute words and phrases in Column 2 of that Part.
4
Where in those provisions any thing is to be done by a constable of a rank specified in Column 1 of Part 3 of Schedule 1 to this Order, that thing shall be done by an immigration officer of at least the grade specified in the corresponding entry of Column 2 of that Part, and the Act shall be construed accordingly.
5
Where a person is detained by the police under Part IV of the Act, in connection with an investigation conducted by an immigration officer, the Act applies as if the following references included references to an immigration officer—
a
in section 39(2) and (3), “a police officer”, “an officer” and “the officer”;
b
in sections 41(2)(c), 43(1), 44(1) and the first reference in section118(2)5, “constable”.
6
In the Act as it applies by virtue of this article, an expression defined in this Order has the same meaning as in this Order.
Exceptions4
1
Nothing in the application of the Act by virtue of article 3 confers on an immigration officer any power—
a
to charge a person with any offence; or
b
to release a person on bail.
2
Accordingly, in the Act as it applies by virtue of article 3—
a
references to a person being charged with an offence are to a person being charged with an offence by a constable, and
b
references to a person being released on bail are to a person being released on bail by a constable.
3
Nothing in the application of the Act by virtue of article 3 confers on an immigration officer any power to detain a person for an offence after the person has been charged with that offence.
Authorisation5
Powers and functions in the provisions of the Act, as applied by article 3, may be exercised by an immigration officer only if the officer is acting with the authority (which may be general or specific) of the Secretary of State.
Use of reasonable force6
Where any provision of the Act as applied by article 3—
a
confers a power on an immigration officer, and
b
does not provide that the power may only be exercised with the consent of some person other than the immigration officer upon whom the power is conferred,
the immigration officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of the power.
Arrest without warrant7
Section 24(2) of the Act6, as applied by article 3, does not limit any other enactment, including any enactment contained in subordinate legislation, for the time being in force which confers upon an immigration officer the power to arrest or detain a person.
Search of persons found on premises8
1
This article applies where an immigration officer searches premises in reliance on a warrant under section 8 of, or paragraph 12 of Schedule 1 to, the Act7, as applied by article 3.
2
The immigration officer may search any person found on the premises where the immigration officer has reasonable cause to believe that person to be in possession of material which is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation of the offence for which the warrant was issued.
3
The power to search conferred by paragraph (2) above is only a power to search to the extent that is reasonably required for the purpose of discovering any such material.
4
The power to search conferred by paragraph (2) is not to be construed as authorising an immigration officer to require a person to remove any of his clothing, other than an outer coat, jacket or gloves but they do authorise a search of a person’s mouth.
5
No person may be searched except by a person of the same sex.
Seizure and retention of things found upon search9
1
The power of an immigration officer to seize and retain evidence found upon a lawful search of a person or premise under section 19 of the Act8, as applied by article 3, shall have effect notwithstanding that the offence to which the evidence relates does not relate to an immigration or nationality matter.
2
Nothing in the application of the Act by virtue of article 3 prevents any thing lawfully seized by a person under any enactment from being accepted and retained by an immigration officer.
3
Section 21 of the Act (access and copying)9, as applied by article 3, shall not apply to any thing seized or retained by an immigration officer under the Immigration Acts.
Modification of section 18 of the Act (entry and search after arrest)10
Section 18 of the Act10, as applied by article 3, has effect as if for subsection (8) there were substituted—
8
If the person who was in occupation or control of the premises at the time of the search is in police detention at the time the record is made, the officer shall ensure that the record is included as part of the person’s custody record.