Powers of entry, search and seizure

Power to board and search vessels or aircraft
38
1
This section applies where—
a
a police or customs officer has reasonable grounds to believe that there is relevant evidence in or on any vessel or aircraft, and
b
the vessel or aircraft is not a dwelling.
2
The officer may at any time—
a
board the vessel or aircraft, and
b
search it for relevant evidence.
3
For the purposes of exercising the power conferred by subsection (2), the officer may require a vessel or aircraft—
a
to stop, or
b
to do anything else that will facilitate the boarding of that or any other vessel or aircraft.
4
A police or customs officer who has boarded a vessel or aircraft may, for the purposes of disembarking from the vessel or aircraft, require that or any other vessel or aircraft—
a
to stop, or
b
to do anything else that will enable the officer to disembark from the vessel or aircraft.
5
A police or customs officer may require any person on board a vessel or aircraft to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person's control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of any power conferred by this section.
6
For provision conferring additional powers to enter and search vessels and aircraft, see section 39.
S. 38 in force at 26.5.2016 by S.I. 2016/553, reg. 2