Powers of entry, search and seizure
I143Powers of seizure, etc
1
A police or customs officer who is exercising the power of search conferred by section 36 may seize and detain anything found in the course of the search.
2
This subsection applies where a relevant enforcement officer—
a
is exercising a power of search conferred by section 37, 38 or 39 in relation to any premises, or
b
is otherwise lawfully on premises.
3
Where subsection (2) applies, the officer may—
a
seize and detain or remove any item found on the premises;
b
take copies of or extracts from any document or record found on the premises.
4
A relevant enforcement officer to whom any document or record has been produced in accordance with a requirement imposed under section 42 may—
a
seize and detain or remove that document or record;
b
take copies of or extracts from that document or record.
In this subsection “document” includes anything falling within paragraph (a) or (b) of section 42(3).
5
The powers under this section may only be exercised—
a
for the purposes of determining whether an offence under any of sections 4 to 9 or section 26 has been committed, or
b
in relation to an item which a relevant enforcement officer reasonably believes to be—
i
relevant evidence, or
ii
a psychoactive substance (whether or not it is relevant evidence).
6
Nothing in this section confers power on a relevant enforcement officer to seize an item which is an excluded item (see section 44).