Part VII Miscellaneous and General
Fraudulent reception of transmissions
F1297B Search warrants
1
Where a justice of the peace (in Scotland, a sheriff or justice of the peace) is satisfied by information on oath given by a constable (in Scotland, by evidence on oath) that there are reasonable grounds for believing—
a
that an offence under section 297A(1) has been or is about to be committed in any premises, and
b
that evidence that such an offence has been or is about to be committed is in those premises,
he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises, using such reasonable force as is necessary.
2
The power conferred by subsection (1) does not, in England and Wales, extend to authorising a search for material of the kinds mentioned in section 9(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (certain classes of personal or confidential material).
3
A warrant under subsection (1)—
a
may authorise persons to accompany any constable executing the warrant, and
b
remains in force for F2three months from the date of its issue.
4
In executing a warrant issued under subsection (1) a constable may seize an article if he reasonably believes that it is evidence that any offence under section 297A(1) has been or is about to be committed.
5
In this section “premises” includes land, buildings, fixed or moveable structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft.