PART 4 OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO THE MECHANISM

17 Search etc. for material relevant to Mechanism investigation: Scotland
1 In the application of this Order to Scotland, article 16 is omitted and the provisions of this article have effect.
2 If, on an application made by the procurator fiscal, it appears to a sheriff—
(a) that proceedings have been instituted for the indictment of a person by the Mechanism or that a person has been arrested during an investigation by the Mechanism; and
(b) that the conduct constituting the Mechanism crime which is the subject of the proceedings or investigation would constitute an offence punishable by imprisonment if it had occurred in Scotland,
the sheriff has the like power to grant a warrant authorising entry, search and seizure by any constable as the sheriff would have at common law in respect of any offence punishable at common law in Scotland.
3 An application for a warrant may only be made under paragraph (2) by a procurator fiscal in pursuance of a request received by the Secretary of State from the Mechanism, and any evidence seized by a constable under this article must be furnished by the constable to the procurator fiscal for transmission to the Mechanism.
4 If to comply with a request it is necessary for any such evidence to be accompanied by any certificate, affidavit or other verifying document the constable must also furnish for transmission such document of that nature as may be directed by the procurator fiscal.
5 Where the evidence consists of a document the original or a copy must be transmitted and where it consists of any other article the article itself or a description, photograph or other representation of it must be transmitted as may be necessary to comply with the request.