Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1987

Detention by customs officers S

48 Detention and questioning by customs officers. S

(1) Where an officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has committed or is committing an offence punishable by imprisonment relating to an assigned matter, the officer may, for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out of investigations—

(a) into the offence; and

(b) as to whether criminal proceedings should be instigated against the person,

detain that person and take him as quickly as is reasonably practicable to a customs office or other premises [F1 and may thereafter for that purpose take him to any other place] and, subject to the following provisions of this section, the detention may continue [F2 at the customs office, or as the case may be the other premises or place.].

(2) Detention under subsection (1) above shall be terminated not more than six hours after it begins or (if earlier)—

(a) when the person is arrested;

(b) when he is detained in pursuance of any other enactment or subordinate instrument; or

(c) where there are no longer such grounds as are mentioned in the said subsection (1),

and when a person has been detained under subsection (1) above, he shall be informed immediately upon the termination of his detention in accordance with this subsection that his detention has been terminated.

(3) Where a person has been released at the termination of a period of detention under subsection (1) above he shall not thereafter be detained, under that subsection, on the same grounds or on any grounds arising out of the same circumstances.

(4) Where a person has previously been detained in pursuance of any other enactment or subordinate instrument, he may not be detained under subsection (1) above on the same grounds or on grounds arising from the same circumstances as those which led to his earlier detention.

(5) At the time when an officer detains a person under subsection (1) above, he shall inform the person of his suspicion, of the general nature of the offence which he suspects has been or is being committed and of the reason for the detention; and there shall be recorded—

(a) the place where detention begins and the customs office or other premises to which the person is taken;

[F3 (aa) any other place to which the person is, during the detention, thereafter taken;]

(b) the general nature of the suspected offence;

(c) the time when detention under subsection (1) above begins and the time of the person’s arrival at the customs office or other premises;

(d) the time when the person is informed of his rights in terms of subsection (8) below and of section 49(1) of this Act and the identity of the officer so informing him;

(e) where the person requests such intimation to be sent as is specified in section 49(1) of this Act, the time when such request is—

(i) made;

(ii) complied with; and

(f) the time of the person’s [F4 release from detention] or, where instead of being released he is—

(i) further detained under section 50 of this Act, the time of commencement of the further detention; or

(ii) arrested in respect of the alleged offence, the time of such arrest.

(6) Where a person is detained under subsection (1) above, an officer may—

(a) without prejudice to any existing rule of law as regards the admissibility in evidence of any answer given, put questions to him in relation to the suspected offence;

(b) exercise the same powers of search as are available following an arrest.

(7) An officer may use reasonable force in exercising any power conferred by subsection (1) or (6)(b) above.

(8) A person detained under subsection (1) above shall be under no obligation to answer any question other than to give his name and address, and an officer shall so inform him both on so detaining him and on arrival at the customs office or other premises.

(9) In this section and in sections 49 and 50 of this Act “assigned matter” and “officer” have the meanings given to them by section 1 of the M1 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, and “customs office” means a place for the time being occupied by Her Majesty’s Customs and Excise.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 48(1) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 129(4)(a) (with Sch. 9 para. 17); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F2 Words in s. 48(1) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 129(4)(b) (with Sch. 9 para. 17); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F3 S. 48(5)(aa) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 129(5)(a) (with Sch. 9 para. 17); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F4 Words in s. 48(5)(f) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 129(5)(b) (with Sch. 9 para. 17); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 48(4) excluded by Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2, SIF 40:1), s. 164(4) (as added by Finance Act 1988 (c. 39, SIF 40:1), s. 10(3))

Marginal Citations

M1 1979 c. 2.

49 Right to have someone informed when detained S

(1) Without prejudice to section 19 or 305 of the M2 1975 Act (intimation to solicitor following arrest), a person who, not being a person in respect of whose detention subsection (2) below applies, is being detained under section 48 of this Act [F5 and has been taken to a customs office or other premises or place] shall be entitled to have intimation of his detention and of the [F5 customs office or other premises or place]sent to a solicitor and to one other person reasonably named by him without delay or, where some delay is necessary in the interest of the investigation or the prevention of crime or the apprehension of offenders, with no more delay than is so necessary; and the person shall be informed of such entitlement—

(a) on arrival at the customs office or other premises; or

(b) where he is not detained until after such arrival, on such detention.

(2) Without prejudice to the said section 19 or 305, an officer shall, where a person who is being detained as is mentioned in subsection (1) above appears to him to be a child, send without delay such intimation as is mentioned in that subsection to that person’s parent if known; and the parent—

(a) in a case where there is reasonable cause to suspect that he has been involved in the alleged offence in respect of which the person has been detained, may; and

(b) in any other case shall,

be permitted access to the person.

(3) The nature and extent of any access permitted under subsection(2) above shall be subject to any restriction essential for the furtherance of the investigation or the well-being of the person.

(4) In subsection (2) above—

(a) “child” means a person under 16 years of age; and

(b) “parent”includes a guardian and any person who has the [F6 care] of a child.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in s. 49(1) substituted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 129(6)(with Sch. 9 para. 17); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch. 1

F6 Word in s. 49(4)(b) substituted (1.11.1996) by 1995 c. 36, s. 105(4), Sch. 4 para. 43 (with s. 103(1)); S.I. 1995/2203, art. 3(3), Sch.

Marginal Citations

M2 1975 c.21.

50 Detention in connection with certain drug smuggling offences. S

(1) Where an officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting—

(a) that a person has committed or is committing a relevant offence; and

(b) that, in connection with the commission of such an offence, a controlled drug is secreted in the person’s body,

a superior officer may, notwithstanding that the person has been or is being detained in pursuance of any other enactment or subordinate instrument, authorise the detention of the person at a customs office or other premises in accordance with this section.

(2) Subject to subsection (7) below, where a person is detained under subsection (1) above or is further detained in pursuance of a warrant under subsection (4) below he shall—

(a) provide such specimens of blood or urine for analysis;

(b) submit to such intimate searches, to be carried out by a registered medical practitioner;

(c) submit to such other tests or examination prescribed by the Secretary of State by regulations made under this paragraph to be carried out by, or under the supervision of, a registered medical practitioner,

as the officer may reasonably require; and regulations under paragraph (c) above shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) Subject to subsection (4) below, detention under subsection (1) above shall be terminated not more than 24 hours after it begins, or (if earlier)—

(a) when the person is arrested;

(b) when he is detained in pursuance of any other enactment or subordinate instrument; or

(c) where there are no longer such grounds as are mentioned in subsection (1),

and, when a person has been detained under subsection (1), he shall, unless further detained in pursuance of a warrant under subsection (4) below, be informed immediately upon the termination of his detention in accordance with this subsection that his detention has been terminated.

(4) Where a person is detained under subsection (1) above and either—

(a) he has failed or refused—

(i) to provide a specimen in pursuance of paragraph (a) of subsection (2) above; or

(ii) to submit to any search, test or examination referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) of that subsection; or

(b) as a result of anything done in pursuance of the said subsection (2) the officer continues to have reasonable grounds for suspecting—

(i) that the person has committed or is committing a relevant offence; and

(ii) that a controlled drug is secreted in the person’s body,

the procurator fiscal may, at the request of a superior officer, apply to the sheriff for a warrant for the further detention of the person at a customs office or other premises for an additional period of not more than 7 days; and if the sheriff is satisfied that there has been such failure or refusal as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above or, as the case may be, that there are reasonable grounds as mentioned in paragraph (b) above he may grant a warrant for such further detention.

(5) Detention in pursuance of a warrant under subsection (4) above shall be terminated at the end of the period of 7 days mentioned in that subsection or (if earlier)—

(a) when the person is arrested;

(b) when he is detained in pursuance of any other enactment or subordinate instrument; or

(c) where there are no longer such grounds as are mentioned in paragraph (b) of that subsection,

and when a person has been detained in pursuance of a warrant under subsection (4), he shall be informed immediately on the termination of his detention in accordance with this subsection that his detention has been terminated.

(6) Subject to subsection (7) below, the question whether it is to be a specimen of blood or a specimen of urine which is to be provided in pursuance of subsection (2) above shall be decided by the officer making the requirement.

(7) A person may be required, in pursuance of subsection (2) above—

(a) to provide a specimen of blood; or

(b) to submit to any search, test or examination,

only if a registered medical practitioner is of the opinion that there are no medical reasons for not making such a requirement; and, if a requirement to provide a specimen of blood is made, the specimen may be taken only by a registered medical practitioner.

(8) Subsections (3), (5), (6) and (8) of section 48 of this Act shall apply in respect of a person detained under this section as they apply in respect of a person detained under the said section 48; and, except as regards a requirement under subsection (2) above, an officer may use reasonable force in exercising any power conferred by this section.

(9) Section 49 of this Act shall, subject to the following modifications, apply in respect of a person detained under this section as it applies to a person detained under section 48 of this Act—

(a) any delay in informing a solicitor and one other person of such detention as is mentioned in subsection (1) of the said section 49 shall not extend longer than the period of 24 hours from the start of the detention, and shall only be permitted on the authorisation of a superior officer;

(b) the person detained shall be entitled to consult a solicitor at any time without delay, and he shall be informed of such entitlement at the commencement of the detention; but, if a superior officer considers it necessary in the interest of the investigation or the prevention of a crime or the apprehension of offenders, he may authorise a delay not extending longer than the period of 24 hours from the start of the detention; and

(c) paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of the said section 49 shall cease to apply at the end of the period of 24 hours from the start of the detention,

but any delay authorised by virtue of this subsection shall be for no longer than is necessary in the interest of the investigation or the prevention of crime or the apprehension of offenders.

(10) Without prejudice to section 20(2) of the M3 Interpretation Act 1978, the references in section 48(5) of this Act to section 49(1) of this Act shall be construed as including references to subsection (9) above; and the requirement to record certain matters under the said section 48(5) shall include a requirement to record the time when a person detained makes a request to consult a solicitor and the time when the solicitor is contacted for the purpose of arranging a consultation.

(11) In this section—

• “intimate search” means a search which consists of the physical examination of a person’s body orifices;

• “relevant offence” means an offence involving a controlled drug under any of the following provisions of the M4 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979—

(a) section 50(2) or (3) (importation etc. of prohibited goods);

(b) section 68(2) (exportation etc. of prohibited goods);

(c) section 170(1) (possessing or dealing with prohibited goods);

(d) section 170(2) (being concerned in evasion or attempt at evasion of a prohibition);

• “superior officer” means an officer of the graded of senior executive officer or above.

Marginal Citations

M3 1978 c. 30

M4 1979 c. 2.