Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

352 Search and seizure warrantsE+W+N.I.
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

(1)A judge may, on an application made to him by an appropriate officer, issue a search and seizure warrant if he is satisfied that either of the requirements for the issuing of the warrant is fulfilled.

(2)The application for a search and seizure warrant must state that—

(a)a person specified in the application is subject to a confiscation investigation or a money laundering investigation, or

(b)property specified in the application is subject to a civil recovery investigation [F1or a detained cash investigation] .

(3)The application must also state—

(a)that the warrant is sought for the purposes of the investigation;

(b)that the warrant is sought in relation to the premises specified in the application;

(c)that the warrant is sought in relation to material specified in the application, or that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is material falling within section 353(6), (7) [F2, (7A), (7B) ] or (8) on the premises.

(4)A search and seizure warrant is a warrant authorising an appropriate person—

(a)to enter and search the premises specified in the application for the warrant, and

(b)to seize and retain any material found there which is likely to be of substantial value (whether or not by itself) to the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made.

(5)An appropriate person is—

(a)a constable [F3, an accredited financial investigator] or a customs officer, if the warrant is sought for the purposes of a confiscation investigation or a money laundering investigation;

(b)a [F4member of SOCA's staff or of the staff of the relevant Director] , if the warrant is sought for the purposes of a civil recovery investigation.

[F5(c)a constable [F6, an accredited financial investigator] or an officer of Revenue and Customs, if the warrant is sought for the purposes of a detained cash investigation.]

[F7(5A)In this Part “relevant Director”—

(a)in relation to England and Wales, means the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions or the Director of the Serious Fraud Office; and

(b)in relation to Northern Ireland, means the Director of the Serious Fraud Office or the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.]

(6)The requirements for the issue of a search and seizure warrant are—

(a)that a production order made in relation to material has not been complied with and there are reasonable grounds for believing that the material is on the premises specified in the application for the warrant, or

(b)that section 353 is satisfied in relation to the warrant.

[F8(7)The reference in paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (5) to an accredited financial investigator is a reference to an accredited financial investigator who falls within a description specified in an order made for the purposes of that paragraph by the Secretary of State under section 453.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 352(2)(b) inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 76(1), 94(1); S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(b)

F3Words in s. 352(5)(a) inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 80(1)(a), 94(1); S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(g)

F4Words in s. 352(5)(b) substituted (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 105(2); S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a) (with arts. 3-14)

F6Words in s. 352(5)(c) inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 80(1)(b), 94(1); S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(g)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 352(5) amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/425 art. 5(4) (6.4.2008) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in different parts of the United Kingdom) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/298), arts. 1(2), 2(3)

C2S. 352(5) amendment to earlier affecting provision SI 2003/425 art. 15(4) (6.4.2008) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in different parts of the United Kingdom) (Amendment) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/298), arts. 1(2), 2(6)

C10S. 352(5) modified (1.4.2003) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/425), arts. 1, 5(3)(4), 15(3)(4), 25(3)(4), 26(3)(4) (as amended (6.4.2008) by S.I. 2008/298, arts. 1(2), 2(3)(6))

Commencement Information

I1S. 352 in force at 24.2.2003 by S.I. 2003/120, art. 2, Sch. (with arts. 3, 4) (as amended (20.2.2003) by S.I. 2003/333, art. 14)