Part 3

The Supreme Court

Court security

Powers of search, exclusion, removal and restraint
51B
1
A Supreme Court security officer acting in the execution of the officer's duty may search—
a
any person who is in, or seeking to enter, a court building, and
b
any article in the possession of such a person.
2
Subsection (1) does not authorise a Supreme Court security officer to require a person to remove any of the person's clothing other than a coat, jacket, headgear, gloves or footwear.
3
A Supreme Court security officer acting in the execution of the officer's duty may exclude or remove from a court building, or a part of a court building, any person who refuses—
a
to permit a search under subsection (1), or
b
to surrender an article in the person's possession when asked to do so under section 51C(1).
4
A Supreme Court security officer acting in the execution of the officer's duty may—
a
restrain any person who is in a court building, or
b
exclude or remove any person from a court building, or a part of a court building,
if it is reasonably necessary to do so for one of the purposes given in subsection (5).
5
The purposes are—
a
enabling business of the Supreme Court, or of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, to be carried on without interference or delay;
b
maintaining order;
c
securing the safety of any person in the court building.
6
A Supreme Court security officer acting in the execution of the officer's duty may remove any person from a courtroom at the request of—
a
a judge of the Supreme Court, or
b
a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
7
The powers given by subsections (3), (4) and (6) include power to use reasonable force, where necessary.
Ss. 51A-51E and cross-heading inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), ss. 30(1), 61(3); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(c)