Propose a change

Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

Write the words of this act the way you think they should read. Solon shows your change as a redline against the published text and pins it to that exact text, so it can never be applied to wording you did not see.

Change 1

What to do with it
As published

15 Search warrants—safeguards.

(1) This section and section 16 below have effect in relation to the issue to constables under any enactment, including an enactment contained in an Act passed after this Act, of warrants to enter and search premises; and an entry on or search of premises under a warrant is unlawful unless it complies with this section and section 16 below. (2) Where a constable applies for any such warrant, it shall be his duty— (a) to state— (i) the ground on which he makes the application; . . . (ii) the enactment under which the warrant would be issued; and (iii) if the application is for a warrant authorising entry and search on more than one occasion, the ground on which he applies for such a warrant, and whether he seeks a warrant authorising an unlimited number of entries, or (if not) the maximum number of entries desired; (b) to specify the matters set out in subsection (2A) below; and (c) to identify, so far as is practicable, the articles or persons to be sought. (2A) The matters which must be specified pursuant to subsection (2)(b) above are— (a) if the application relates to one or more sets of premises specified in the application, each set of premises which it is desired to enter and search; (b) if the application relates to any premises occupied or controlled by a person specified in the application– (i) as many sets of premises which it is desired to enter and search as it is reasonably practicable to specify; (ii) the person who is in occupation or control of those premises and any others which it is desired to enter and search; (iii) why it is necessary to search more premises than those specified under sub-paragraph (i); and (iv) why it is not reasonably practicable to specify all the premises which it is desired to enter and search. (3) An application for such a warrant shall be made ex parte and supported by an information in writing. (4) The constable shall answer on oath any question that the justice of the peace or judge hearing the application asks him. (5) A warrant shall authorise an entry on one occasion only unless it specifies that it authorises multiple entries. (5A) If it specifies that it authorises multiple entries, it must also specify whether the number of entries authorised is unlimited, or limited to a specified maximum. (6) A warrant— (a) shall specify— (i) the name of the person who applies for it; (ii) the date on which it is issued; (iii) the enactment under which it is issued; and (iv) each set of premises to be searched, or (in the case of an all premises warrant) the person who is in occupation or control of premises to be searched, together with any premises under his occupation or control which can be specified and which are to be searched; and (b) shall identify, so far as is practicable, the articles or persons to be sought. (7) Two copies shall be made of a warrant which specifies only one set of premises and does not authorise multiple entries; and as many copies as are reasonably required may be made of any other kind of warrant. (8) The copies shall be clearly certified as copies.

Your change, as a redline

15 Search warrants—safeguards.

(1) This section and section 16 below have effect in relation to the issue to constables under any enactment, including an enactment contained in an Act passed after this Act, of warrants to enter and search premises; and an entry on or search of premises under a warrant is unlawful unless it complies with this section and section 16 below. (2) Where a constable applies for any such warrant, it shall be his duty— (a) to state— (i) the ground on which he makes the application; . . . (ii) the enactment under which the warrant would be issued; and (iii) if the application is for a warrant authorising entry and search on more than one occasion, the ground on which he applies for such a warrant, and whether he seeks a warrant authorising an unlimited number of entries, or (if not) the maximum number of entries desired; (b) to specify the matters set out in subsection (2A) below; and (c) to identify, so far as is practicable, the articles or persons to be sought. (2A) The matters which must be specified pursuant to subsection (2)(b) above are— (a) if the application relates to one or more sets of premises specified in the application, each set of premises which it is desired to enter and search; (b) if the application relates to any premises occupied or controlled by a person specified in the application– (i) as many sets of premises which it is desired to enter and search as it is reasonably practicable to specify; (ii) the person who is in occupation or control of those premises and any others which it is desired to enter and search; (iii) why it is necessary to search more premises than those specified under sub-paragraph (i); and (iv) why it is not reasonably practicable to specify all the premises which it is desired to enter and search. (3) An application for such a warrant shall be made ex parte and supported by an information in writing. (4) The constable shall answer on oath any question that the justice of the peace or judge hearing the application asks him. (5) A warrant shall authorise an entry on one occasion only unless it specifies that it authorises multiple entries. (5A) If it specifies that it authorises multiple entries, it must also specify whether the number of entries authorised is unlimited, or limited to a specified maximum. (6) A warrant— (a) shall specify— (i) the name of the person who applies for it; (ii) the date on which it is issued; (iii) the enactment under which it is issued; and (iv) each set of premises to be searched, or (in the case of an all premises warrant) the person who is in occupation or control of premises to be searched, together with any premises under his occupation or control which can be specified and which are to be searched; and (b) shall identify, so far as is practicable, the articles or persons to be sought. (7) Two copies shall be made of a warrant which specifies only one set of premises and does not authorise multiple entries; and as many copies as are reasonably required may be made of any other kind of warrant. (8) The copies shall be clearly certified as copies.

One line that says what changes, such as "Halve the dog tax".

Who it helps, what it costs, what it fixes. It is what persuades people to support it.

A proposal here is not law. Support on Solon is evidence that people want the change; the official route says what it takes to make it law.

Sign in to file your proposal. What you have written stays on this page.

Sign in to file it

Think it through

Ask what your change would do, who would gain and who would bear a cost, and where something like it is already law. The assistant reads your draft as it stands, cites the law and the studies it finds, and takes no side. What you file stays yours.

Questions to start with
Think it through
Legal information from the published text, not advice for your case. Check the sources. Find a law · What the register holds