Return and retention of warrant
13(1)A search warrant must be returned to the appropriate person (see sub-paragraph (2))—
(a)when the warrant has been executed, or
(b)on or before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of its issue, if the warrant is—
(i)a specific-premises warrant that has not been executed,
(ii)an all-premises warrant, or
(iii)a warrant authorising multiple entries.
(2)The appropriate person is—
(a)in the case of a warrant issued in England and Wales, the designated officer for the local justice area in which the justice of the peace was acting when issuing the warrant;
(b)in the case of a warrant issued in Northern Ireland, the clerk of petty sessions for the petty sessions district in which the lay magistrate was acting when issuing the warrant.
(3)The appropriate person must retain a search warrant returned under sub-paragraph (1) for 12 months from the date of its return.
(4)If during that period the occupier of premises to which the search warrant relates asks to inspect it, the occupier must be allowed to do so.
(5)In this paragraph “specific-premises warrant” and “all-premises warrant” have the meaning given by section 39(3).