Part III

Policing of Aerodromes

Power to stop and search at aerodromes

Power of constable to stop and search persons, vehicles etc
24B
1
Subject to subsection (2) below, a constable may search—
a
any person, vehicle or aircraft in an aerodrome, or
b
anything which is in or on such a vehicle or aircraft,
for stolen or prohibited articles.
2
This section does not give a constable power to search a person, vehicle or aircraft, or anything in or on a vehicle or aircraft, unless he has reasonable grounds for suspecting that he will find stolen or prohibited articles.
3
For the purposes of exercising the power conferred by subsection (1) above, a constable may—
a
enter any part of an aerodrome;
b
detain a person, vehicle or aircraft;
c
board an aircraft.
4
If in the course of a search under subsection (1) above a constable discovers an article which he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be a stolen or prohibited article, he may seize it.
5
An article is prohibited for the purposes of this section if it is an article—
a
made or adapted for use in the course of or in connection with criminal conduct, or
b
intended by the person having it with him for such use by him or by some other person.
6
In this section “
criminal conduct
” means conduct which—
a
constitutes an offence in the part of the United Kingdom in which the aerodrome is situated, or
b
would constitute an offence in that part of the United Kingdom if it occurred there.
7
The powers conferred by this section on a constable are without prejudice to any powers exercisable by him apart from this section.
8
The exercise of a power under this section does not require a warrant.
9
Nothing in this section authorises a constable to enter a dwelling.
Words in Pt. III heading inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48) , s. 53(1) , Sch. 14 para. 8(2) ; S.I. 2007/709 , art. 3(p) (with art. 6 )
Pt. III modified (1.4.2014) by Civil Aviation Act 2012 (c. 19), s. 110(1), Sch. 11 para. 18 (with Sch. 10 para. 1217); S.I. 2014/262, art. 3(a)
Pt. III power to apply (with modifications) conferred (in part) (26.11.2018) by Space Industry Act 2018 (c. 5), s. 70(1), Sch. 5 para. 2(2)(c) (with Sch. 5 para. 4(1)); S.I. 2018/1224, reg. 2(ddd)