Section 26 – Power of search with warrant
100.This section relates to search warrants issued where there is a reasonable ground to suspect that an air weapon offence has been, is being or is about to be committed or there is a danger to the public safety or the peace involving an air weapon. Subsection (1) sets out that such a warrant may be granted by a sheriff on application by a constable or member of police staff. Subsections (2) and (3) set out what a constable or member of police staff may do under such a warrant – that is, enter and search premises and seize and detain anything found there in relation to the commission of an air weapon offence. This includes anything in the possession of a person on those premises, and includes the power to require that any electronic information to be reproduced in a way that can be removed from the premises.
101.Subsections (4) and (5) make it an offence for an individual to obstruct intentionally a police constable or member of police staff while carrying out a search under this section, and set out the attached penalty.