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Part 2U.K. Powers of seizure

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Construction of Part 2U.K.

63 CopiesU.K.

(1)Subject to subsection (3)—

(a)in this Part, “seize” includes “take a copy of”, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

(b)this Part shall apply as if any copy taken under any power to which any provision of this Part applies were the original of that of which it is a copy; and

(c)for the purposes of this Part, except sections 50 and 51, the powers mentioned in subsection (2) (which are powers to obtain hard copies etc. of information which is stored in electronic form) shall be treated as powers of seizure, and references to seizure and to seized property shall be construed accordingly.

(2)The powers mentioned in subsection (1)(c) are any powers which are conferred by—

(a)section 19(4) or 20 of the 1984 Act;

(b)Article 21(4) or 22 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12));

(c)section 46(3) of the Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27);

(d)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e)F2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f)section 32(6)(b) of the Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16);

(g)Article 34(6)(b) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 762 (N.I. 7));

[F3(ga)section 23E(5)(b) (as read with section 23K(2)) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995;]

(h)section 28(2)(f) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41); or

(i)section 8(2)(c) of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (c. 5).

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to section 50(6) or 57.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 63(2)(d) repealed (1.9.2007) by Gambling Act 2005 (c. 19), ss. 356, 358, Sch. 17 (with ss. 352, 354); S.I. 2006/3272, art. 2(4) (with transitional provisions in art. 6, Sch. 4)

64 Meaning of “appropriate judicial authority”U.K.

(1)Subject to subsection (2), in this Part “appropriate judicial authority” means—

(a)in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, a judge of the Crown Court;

(b)in relation to Scotland, a sheriff.

(2)In this Part “appropriate judicial authority”, in relation to the seizure of items under any power mentioned in subsection (3) and in relation to items seized under any such power, means—

(a)in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the High Court;

(b)in relation to Scotland, the Court of Session.

(3)Those powers are—

(a)the powers of seizure conferred by—

(i)section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6);

F4(ii). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(iii)section 28(2) of the Competition Act 1998; F5. . .

[F6(aa)the power of seizure conferred by section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, if the power is exercisable for the purposes of a civil recovery investigation F7... (within the meaning of Part 8 of that Act);]

(b)any power of seizure conferred by section 50, so far as that power is exercisable by reference to any power mentioned in paragraph (a).

Textual Amendments

F5Word in s. 64(3) omitted (24.2.2003) by virtue of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 456, 457, 458, Sch. 11 para. 40(4) and by {Sch. 12} of the said Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 the same word is repealed (24.3.2003); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (subject to arts. 3-7 (as amended by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)) and S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-13 (as amended by S.I. 2003/531, arts. 3, 4))

F6S. 64(3)(aa) inserted (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 456, 458(1)(3), Sch. 11 para. 40(4); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-7 (as amended by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14))

Commencement Information

I1S. 64 wholly in force at 1.6.2004; s. 64 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 138(2); s. 64(1) in force for certain purposes at 1.4.2003 by S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(b); s. 64 in force in so far as not already in force at 1.6.2004 by S.I. 2004/1376, art. 2(a)

65 Meaning of “legal privilege”U.K.

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be construed—

(a)for the purposes of the application of this Part to England and Wales, in accordance with section 10 of the 1984 Act (meaning of “legal privilege”);

(b)for the purposes of the application of this Part to Scotland, in accordance with section [F8412 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002](interpretation); and

(c)for the purposes of the application of this Part to Northern Ireland, in accordance with Article 12 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (meaning of “legal privilege”).

(2)In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of—

(a)the power of seizure conferred by section 28(2) of the Competition Act 1998, or

(b)so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power,

references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be read as references to a privileged communication within the meaning of section 30 of that Act.

(3)F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F10(3A)In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of—

(a)the power of seizure conferred by section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, or

(b)so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power,

references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be read as references to privileged material within the meaning of section 354(2) of that Act.]

(4)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of section 452(2) of that Act (privileged information).

F11(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F12(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by [F13paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 15 to the Data Protection Act 2018] shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of [F14paragraph 11 (matters exempt from inspection and seizure: privileged communications)] of that Schedule (privileged communications).

(8)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 9 of that Schedule (privileged communications).

F15(8A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F16(8B)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise or purported exercise of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 27(1)(b) or 29(1) of Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 27(6) or (as the case may be) 29(6) of that Schedule (privileged documents).]

[F17(8C)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise or purported exercise of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 7(f), (j) or (k) of Schedule 12 to the Online Safety Act 2023 is to be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 17(3) of that Schedule (privileged information or documents).]

(9)An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to a power of seizure conferred by—

(a)section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985,

(b)Article 441(3) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986,

F18(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(d)paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to the Data Protection Act 1998, F19. . . F20...

(e)paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000,F21... [F22or]

F21(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F23(g)paragraph 7(f), (j) or (k) of Schedule 12 to the Online Safety Act 2023.]

shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the item would have been taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege had it been seized under the power of seizure by reference to which the power conferred by section 50 was exercised.

Textual Amendments

F8Words in s. 65(1)(b) substituted (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 456, 458, Sch. 11 para. 40(5)(a); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2 Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-7 (as amended by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14))

F10S. 65(3A) inserted (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 456, 458, Sch. 11 para. 40(5)(b); S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3-7 (as amended by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14))

F21S. 65(9)(f) and word omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 63(4)(c); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

66 General interpretation of Part 2U.K.

(1)In this Part—

(2)In this Part references, in relation to a time when seized property is in any person’s possession in consequence of a seizure (“the relevant time”), to something for which the person making the seizure had power to search shall be construed—

(a)where the seizure was made on the occasion of a search carried out on the authority of a warrant, as including anything of the description of things the presence or suspected presence of which provided grounds for the issue of the warrant;

(b)where the property was seized in the course of a search on the occasion of which it would have been lawful for the person carrying out the search to seize anything which on that occasion was believed by him to be, or appeared to him to be, of a particular description, as including—

(i)anything which at the relevant time is believed by the person in possession of the seized property, or (as the case may be) appears to him, to be of that description; and

(ii)anything which is in fact of that description;

(c)where the property was seized in the course of a search on the occasion of which it would have been lawful for the person carrying out the search to seize anything which there were on that occasion reasonable grounds for believing was of a particular description, as including—

(i)anything which there are at the relevant time reasonable grounds for believing is of that description; and

(ii)anything which is in fact of that description;

(d)where the property was seized in the course of a search to which neither paragraph (b) nor paragraph (c) applies, as including anything which is of a description of things which, on the occasion of the search, it would have been lawful for the person carrying it out to seize otherwise than under section 50 and 51; and

(e)where the property was seized on the occasion of a search authorised under section 82 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (seizure of items suspected to have been, or to be intended to be, used in commission of certain offences), as including anything—

(i)which is or has been, or is or was intended to be, used in the commission of an offence such as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) of that section; or

(ii)which at the relevant time the person who is in possession of the seized property reasonably suspects is something falling within sub-paragraph (i).

F26(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)References in subsection (2) to a search include references to any activities authorised by virtue of any of the following—

F27(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)section 29(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41) (power to enter premises and to inspect and seize goods and documents);

F28(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F29(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F30(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F31(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F32(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(h)section [F3329(4)] of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43) (powers of search etc.);

F34(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(j)section 32(5) of the Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16) (power to inspect records relating to a food business);

[F35(ja)paragraph 5 of Schedule 3B to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.]

F36(k). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(l)Article 33(6) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 762 (N.I. 7));

F37(m). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F38(ma). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F39(n)paragraph 2 of Schedule 5 to the Human Tissue Act 2004 (entry and inspection of licensed premises).]

[F40(o)regulation [F4122(4)] of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (powers of entry and search etc)]

[F42(p)sections 26(1), 27(1), 28(1) and 29(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (inspection in connection with licences, inspection in connection with registration, inspection of farm premises and inspection relating to [F43EU] obligations).]

F44(q). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F45(r). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F46(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F47(t)Part 4 of Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015]

(5)References in this Part to a power of seizure include references to each of the powers to take possession of items under—

F48(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6);

F48(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F49(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F48(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(f)section 2(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (c. 38);

F50(g). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(h)section 28(2)(c) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41); and

(i)[F51sections 122D(3) and 176(5)] of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8);

and references in this Part to seizure and to seized property shall be construed accordingly.

(6)In this Part, so far as it applies to England and Wales—

(a)references to excluded material shall be construed in accordance with section 11 of the 1984 Act (meaning of “excluded material”); and

(b)references to special procedure material shall be construed in accordance with section 14 of that Act (meaning of “special procedure material”).

(7)In this Part, so far as it applies to Northern Ireland—

(a)references to excluded material shall be construed in accordance with Article 13 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (meaning of “excluded material”); and

(b)references to special procedure material shall be construed in accordance with Article 16 of that Order (meaning of “special procedure material”).

(8)References in this Part to any item or material being comprised in other property include references to its being mixed with that other property.

(9)In this Part “enactment” includes an enactment contained in Northern Ireland legislation.

Textual Amendments

F27S. 66(4)(a) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F28S. 66(4)(c) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F29S. 66(4)(d) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F30S. 66(4)(e) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F31S. 66(4)(f) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F32S. 66(4)(g) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F38S. 66(4)(ma) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F39S. 66(4)(n) inserted (1.3.2006 for certain purposes and 7.4.2006 for certain further purposes and 1.9.2006 otherwise) by Human Tissue Act 2004 (c. 30), ss. 56, 60, Sch. 6 para. 5(3) (with s. 58); S.I. 2006/404, art. 2(3), Sch. (subject to art. 4 and with transitional provisions in arts. 5, 6); S.I. 2006/1997, art. 3 (subject to arts. 4, 7, 8) (as amended by S.I. 2006/2169, art. 2)

F42S. 66(4)(p) inserted (27.3.2007 for W. and 6.4.2007 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by Animal Welfare Act 2006 (c. 45), ss. 64, 68, Sch. 3 para. 14(2) (with ss. 1(2), 58(1), 59, 60); S.I. 2007/1030, art. 2(1)(l); S.I. 2007/499, art. 2(2)(l)

F44S. 66(4)(q) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F45S. 66(4)(r) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F46S. 66(4)(s) omitted (1.10.2015) by virtue of Consumer Rights Act 2015 (c. 15), s. 100(5), Sch. 6 para. 64(a); S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(i) (with art. 8)

F48S. 66(5)(a)(c)(e) repealed (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/3649, arts. 1, 364(c)