Part VIINorthern Ireland
Powers of arrest, search, &c.
87Examination of documents
1
A member of Her Majesty’s forces or a constable who performs a search under a provision of this Part—
a
may examine any document or record found in order to ascertain whether it contains information of the kind mentioned in section 58(1)(a) or 103(1)(a), and
b
if necessary or expedient for the purpose of paragraph (a), may remove the document or record to another place and retain it there until the examination is completed.
2
Subsection (1) shall not permit a person to examine a document or record if he has reasonable cause to believe that it is an item subject to legal privilege (within the meaning of the [S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12).] Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989).
3
Subject to subsections (4) and (5), a document or record may not be retained by virtue of subsection (1)(b) for more than 48 hours.
4
An officer of the Royal Ulster Constabulary who is of at least the rank of chief inspector may authorise a constable to retain a document or record for a further period or periods.
5
Subsection (4) does not permit the retention of a document or record after the end of the period of 96 hours beginning with the time when it was removed for examination under subsection (1)(b).
6
A person who wilfully obstructs a member of Her Majesty’s forces or a constable in the exercise of a power conferred by this section commits an offence.
7
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (6) shall be liable—
a
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, to a fine or to both, or
b
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both.