Policing and Crime Act 2017

109 Power to stop, board, divert and detain

(1) This section applies if a law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that—

(a) an offence under the law of Northern Ireland is being, or has been, committed on a ship in relation to which the powers conferred by this section are exercisable by virtue of section 107, or

(b) a ship in relation to which those powers are so exercisable is otherwise being used in connection with the commission of an offence under that law.

(2) The law enforcement officer may—

(a) stop the ship;

(b) board the ship;

(c) require the ship to be taken to a port in Northern Ireland.

(3) The law enforcement officer may require the master of the ship, or any member of its crew, to take such action as is necessary for the purposes of subsection (2)(c).

(4) A law enforcement officer must give notice in writing to the master of any ship detained under this section.

(5) The notice must state that the ship is to be detained until the notice is withdrawn by the giving of a further notice in writing signed by a law enforcement officer.