http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/29/section/195EProceeds of Crime Act 2002An Act to establish the Assets Recovery Agency and make provision about the appointment of its Director and his functions (including Revenue functions), to provide for confiscation orders in relation to persons who benefit from criminal conduct and for restraint orders to prohibit dealing with property, to allow the recovery of property which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct or which is intended to be used in unlawful conduct, to make provision about money laundering, to make provision about investigations relating to benefit from criminal conduct or to property which is or represents property obtained through unlawful conduct or to money laundering, to make provision to give effect to overseas requests and orders made where property is found or believed to be obtained through criminal conduct, and for connected purposes.2002-08-12texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-06Expert Participation2026-06-30 Part 4Confiscation: Northern Ireland<Emphasis><Addition ChangeId="key-9ebc3787d69dfa1784554a1d2bcd7e2f-1514656404999" CommentaryRef="key-9ebc3787d69dfa1784554a1d2bcd7e2f">Search and seizure powers</Addition></Emphasis><Addition ChangeId="key-9ebc3787d69dfa1784554a1d2bcd7e2f-1514656404999" CommentaryRef="key-9ebc3787d69dfa1784554a1d2bcd7e2f">Search power: people</Addition>195E1An appropriate officer may exercise the following powers if the officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person is carrying property that may be seized under section 195C.2The officer may, so far as the officer thinks it necessary or expedient for the purpose of seizing the property under that section, require the person—ato permit a search of any article with the person,bto permit a search of the person.3An officer exercising a power under subsection (2) may detain the person for so long as is necessary for its exercise.4A power conferred by this section may be exercised only with the appropriate approval under section 195G unless, in the circumstances, it is not practicable to obtain that approval before exercising the power.5This section does not require a person to submit to an intimate search or strip search (within the meaning of section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979).Pt. 4 applied (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 6 para. 8(5) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)Pt. 4 applied (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 6 para. 9(5) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)Pt. 4 applied (3.12.2014) by The Criminal Justice and Data Protection (Protocol No. 36) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3141), reg. 1(b), Sch. 2 para. 11(5)Ss. 195A-195T and cross-headings inserted (22.11.2014 for the insertion of ss. 195S(1)-(5), 195T(1)-(7) for specified purposes, 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), ss. 57(2), 116(1) (as amended by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2595), arts. 1(2), 18(2)(m) (with arts. 24-28); S.I. 2014/3101, art. 3; S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(b))Pt. 4 applied (20.12.2023) by National Security Act 2023 (c. 32), s. 100(1), Sch. 6 para. 42(4) (with s. 97); S.I. 2023/1272, reg. 2(a)Pt. 4 applied (3.12.2014) by The Criminal Justice and Data Protection (Protocol No. 36) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3141), reg. 1(b), Sch. 2 para. 6(5)Pt. 4: power to amend conferred (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 97(3), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(a)Pt. 4 applied by S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12), arts. 57(5B), 59(8B) (as substituted (24.3.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), Supreme Court s. 458(1), Sch. 11 para. 19(2)(3); S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.)Pt. 4 functions of receiver extended (24.2.2003) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Enforcement in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2002 (S.I. 2002/3133), arts. 1, 4(1)(a)