Law

Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-06-29, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 150 provisions

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150 provisions

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39 Intimidation of witnesses

(1) A person commits an offence if— (a) he does an act which intimidates, and is intended to intimidate, another person (“the victim”); (b) he does the act— (i) knowing or believing that the victim is or may be a witness in any relevant proceedings; and (ii) intending, by his act, to cause the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with; and (c) the act is done after the commencement of those proceedings. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1) it is immaterial— (a) whether or not the act that is done is done in the presence of the victim; (b) whether that act is done to the victim himself or to another person; and (c) whether or not the intention to cause the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with is the predominating intention of the person doing the act in question. (3) If, in proceedings against a person for an offence under this section, it is proved— (a) that he did any act that intimidated, and was intended to intimidate, another person, and (b) that he did that act knowing or believing that that other person was or might be a witness in any relevant proceedings that had already commenced, he shall be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to have done the act with the intention of causing the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with. (4) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine, or to both; (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both. (5) References in this section to a witness, in relation to any proceedings, include references to a person who provides, or is able to provide, any information or any document or other thing which might be used as evidence in those proceedings or which (whether or not admissible as evidence in those proceedings)— (a) might tend to confirm evidence which will be or might be admitted in those proceedings; (b) might be referred to in evidence given in those proceedings by another witness; or (c) might be used as the basis for any cross examination in the course of those proceedings. (6) References in this section to doing an act include references to issuing any threat (whether against a person or his finances or property or otherwise), or making any other statement. (7) This section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any offence subsisting at common law.

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40 Harming witnesses etc.

(1) A person commits an offence if, in circumstances falling within subsection (2)— (a) he does an act which harms, and is intended to harm, another person; or (b) intending to cause another person to fear harm, he threatens to do an act which would harm that other person. (2) The circumstances fall within this subsection if— (a) the person doing or threatening to do the act does so knowing or believing that some person (whether or not the person harmed or threatened or the person against whom harm is threatened) has been a witness in relevant proceedings; and (b) he does or threatens to do that act because of that knowledge or belief. (3) If, in proceedings against a person for an offence under this section, it is proved that, within the relevant period— (a) he did an act which harmed, and was intended to harm, another person, or (b) intending to cause another person to fear harm, he threatened to do an act which would harm that other person, and that he did the act, or (as the case may be) threatened to do the act, with the knowledge or belief required by paragraph (a) of subsection (2), he shall be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to have done the act, or (as the case may be) threatened to do the act, because of that knowledge or belief. (4) For the purposes of this section it is immaterial— (a) whether or not the act that is done or threatened, or the threat that is made, is or would be done or is made in the presence of the person who is or would be harmed or of the person who is threatened; (b) whether or not the motive mentioned in subsection (2)(b) is the predominating motive for the act or threat; and (c) whether the harm that is done or threatened is physical or financial or is harm to a person or to his property. (5) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable— (a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine, or to both; (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both. (6) In this section “the relevant period”, in relation to an act done, or threat made, with the knowledge or belief that a person has been a witness in any relevant proceedings, means the period that begins with the commencement of those proceedings and ends one year after they are finally concluded. (7) References in this section to a witness, in relation to any proceedings, include references to a person who has provided any information or any document or other thing which was or might have been used as evidence in those proceedings or which (whether or not it was admissible as evidence in those proceedings)— (a) tended to confirm or might have tended to confirm any evidence which was or could have been given in those proceedings; (b) was or might have been referred to in evidence given in those proceedings by another witness; or (c) was or might have been used as the basis for any cross examination in the course of those proceedings. (8) This section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any offence subsisting at common law.

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41 Relevant proceedings

(1) A reference in section 39 or 40 to relevant proceedings is a reference to any proceedings in or before the Court of Appeal, the High Court, the Crown Court or any county court or magistrates’ court which— (a) are not proceedings for an offence; and (b) were commenced after the coming into force of that section. (2) For the purposes of any reference in section 39 or 40 or this section to the commencement of any proceedings relevant proceedings are commenced (subject to subsection (5)) at the earliest time at which one of the following occurs— (a) an information is laid or application, claim form, complaint, petition, summons or other process made or issued for the purpose of commencing the proceedings; (b) any other step is taken by means of which the subject matter of the proceedings is brought for the first time (whether as part of the proceedings or in anticipation of them) before the court. (3) For the purposes of any reference in section 39 or 40 to the time when any proceedings are finally concluded, relevant proceedings are finally concluded (subject to subsection (4))— (a) if proceedings for an appeal against, or an application for a review of, those proceedings or of any decision taken in those proceedings are brought or is made, at the time when proceedings on that appeal or application are finally concluded; (b) if the proceedings are withdrawn or discontinued, at the time when they are withdrawn or discontinued; and (c) in any other case, when the court in or before which the proceedings are brought finally disposes of all the matters arising in those proceedings. (4) Relevant proceedings shall not be taken to be finally concluded by virtue of subsection (3)(a) where— (a) the matters to which the appeal or application relate are such that the proceedings in respect of which it is brought or made continue or resume after the making of any determination on that appeal or application; or (b) a determination made on that appeal or application requires those proceedings to continue or to be resumed. (5) Where, after having appeared to be finally concluded, any relevant proceedings continue by reason of— (a) the giving of permission to bring an appeal after a fixed time for appealing has expired, (b) the lifting of any stay in the proceedings, (c) the setting aside, without an appeal, of any judgment or order, or (d) the revival of any discontinued proceedings, sections 39 and 40 and this section shall have effect as if the proceedings had concluded when they appeared to, but as if the giving of permission, the lifting of the stay, the setting aside of the judgment or order or, as the case may be, the revival of the discontinued proceedings were the commencement of new relevant proceedings.

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42 Police directions stopping the harassment etc of a person in his home

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a constable who is at the scene may give a direction under this section to any person if— (a) that person is present outside or in the vicinity of any premises that are used by any individual (“the resident”) as his dwelling; (b) that constable believes, on reasonable grounds, that that person is present there for the purpose (by his presence or otherwise) of representing to the resident or another individual (whether or not one who uses the premises as his dwelling), or of persuading the resident or such another individual— (i) that he should not do something that he is entitled or required to do; ... (ii) that he should do something that he is not under any obligation to do; (iii) that they should not have done something they were entitled or required to do; or (iv) that they should have done something they were not under any obligation to do; and (c) that constable also believes, on reasonable grounds, that the presence of that person (either alone or together with that of any other persons who are also present)— (i) amounts to, or is likely to result in, the harassment of the resident; or (ii) is likely to cause alarm or distress to the resident. (2) A direction under this section is a direction requiring the person to whom it is given to do all such things as the constable giving it may specify as the things he considers necessary to prevent one or both of the following— (a) the harassment of the resident; or (b) the causing of any alarm or distress to the resident. (3) A direction under this section may be given orally; and where a constable is entitled to give a direction under this section to each of several persons outside, or in the vicinity of, any premises, he may give that direction to those persons by notifying them of his requirements either individually or all together. (4) The requirements that may be imposed by a direction under this section include— (a) a requirement to leave the vicinity of the premises in question, and (b) a requirement to leave that vicinity and not to return to it within such period as the constable may specify, not being longer than 3 months; and (in either case) the requirement to leave the vicinity may be to do so immediately or after a specified period of time. (5) A direction under this section may make exceptions to any requirement imposed by the direction, and may make any such exception subject to such conditions as the constable giving the direction thinks fit; and those conditions may include— (a) conditions as to the distance from the premises in question at which, or otherwise as to the location where, persons who do not leave their vicinity must remain; and (b) conditions as to the number or identity of the persons who are authorised by the exception to remain in the vicinity of those premises. (6) The power of a constable to give a direction under this section shall not include— (a) any power to give a direction at any time when there is a more senior-ranking police officer at the scene; or (b) any power to direct a person to refrain from conduct that is lawful under section 220 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52) (right peacefully to picket a work place); but it shall include power to vary or withdraw a direction previously given under this section. (7) Any person who knowingly fails to comply with a requirement in a direction given to him under this section (other than a requirement under subsection (4)(b)) shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or to both. (7A) Any person to whom a constable has given a direction including a requirement under subsection (4)(b) commits an offence if he— (a) returns to the vicinity of the premises in question within the period specified in the direction beginning with the date on which the direction is given; and (b) does so for the purpose described in subsection (1)(b). (7B) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (7A) shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or to both. (7C) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for summary offences), the reference in subsection (7B) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months. (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9) In this section “dwelling” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Public Order Act 1986 (c. 64).

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42A Offence of harassment etc. of a person in his home

(1) A person commits an offence if— (a) that person is present outside or in the vicinity of any premises that are used by any individual (“the resident”) as his dwelling; (b) that person is present there for the purpose (by his presence or otherwise) of representing to the resident or another individual (whether or not one who uses the premises as his dwelling), or of persuading the resident or such another individual— (i) that he should not do something that he is entitled or required to do; ... (ii) that he should do something that he is not under any obligation to do; (iii) that they should not have done something they were entitled or required to do; or (iv) that they should have done something they were not under any obligation to do; (c) that person— (i) intends his presence to amount to the harassment of, or to cause alarm or distress to, the resident; or (ii) knows or ought to know that his presence is likely to result in the harassment of, or to cause alarm or distress to, the resident; and (d) the presence of that person— (i) amounts to the harassment of, or causes alarm or distress to, any person falling within subsection (2); or (ii) is likely to result in the harassment of, or to cause alarm or distress to, any such person. (2) A person falls within this subsection if he is— (a) the resident, (b) a person in the resident's dwelling, or (c) a person in another dwelling in the vicinity of the resident's dwelling. (3) The references in subsection (1)(c) and (d) to a person's presence are references to his presence either alone or together with that of any other persons who are also present. (4) For the purposes of this section a person (A) ought to know that his presence is likely to result in the harassment of, or to cause alarm or distress to, a resident if a reasonable person in possession of the same information would think that A's presence was likely to have that effect. (5) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale, or to both. (6) In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for summary offences), the reference in subsection (5) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months. (7) In this section “dwelling” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Public Order Act 1986.

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43 Malicious communications

(1) In subsection (1) of section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 (c. 27) (offence of sending letters and other articles with intent to cause distress or anxiety)— (a) in paragraph (a), for “letter or other article” there shall be substituted “ letter, electronic communication or article of any description ”; and (b) in paragraph (b), for the word “other article” there shall be substituted “ article or electronic communication ”. (2) In subsection (2) of that section (defence of making a threat in the belief that it was a proper way of reinforcing a demand and that there were reasonable grounds for making that demand)— (a) in paragraph (a), for “which he believed he had reasonable grounds for making” there shall be substituted “ made by him on reasonable grounds ”; and (b) in paragraph (b), after “believed” there shall be inserted “ , and had reasonable grounds for believing, ”. (3) After that subsection there shall be inserted— (2A) In this section “electronic communication” includes— (a) any oral or other communication by means of a telecommunication system (within the meaning of the Telecommunications Act 1984 (c. 12)); and (b) any communication (however sent) that is in electronic form. (4) In subsection (3) of that section (definition of “send”)— (a) after “delivering” there shall be inserted “ or transmitting ”; and (b) for “or delivered” there shall be substituted “ , delivered or transmitted ”. (5) In subsection (5) of that section (penalty for offence), for “a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale” there shall be substituted “ imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both ”. (6) Subsection (5) does not affect the penalty for an offence committed before the day on which this Act is passed.

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44 Collective harrassment

(1) In section 7 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (c. 40) (interpretation of sections 1 to 5), there shall be inserted the following subsection— (3A) A person’s conduct on any occasion shall be taken, if aided, abetted, counselled or procured by another— (a) to be conduct on that occasion of the other (as well as conduct of the person whose conduct it is); and (b) to be conduct in relation to which the other’s knowledge and purpose, and what he ought to have known, are the same as they were in relation to what was contemplated or reasonably foreseeable at the time of the aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring. (2) This section has effect in relation to any aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring that takes place after the coming into force of this section.

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45 Addresses of directors and secretaries of companies

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46 Placing of advertisement relating to prostitution

(1) A person commits an offence if— (a) he places on, or in the immediate vicinity of, a public telephone an advertisement relating to prostitution, and (b) he does so with the intention that the advertisement should come to the attention of any other person or persons. (2) For the purposes of this section, an advertisement is an advertisement relating to prostitution if it— (a) is for the services of a prostitute, whether male or female; or (b) indicates that premises are premises at which such services are offered. (3) In any proceedings for an offence under this section, any advertisement which a reasonable person would consider to be an advertisement relating to prostitution shall be presumed to be such an advertisement unless it is shown not to be. (4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both. (5) In this section— “public telephone” means— any telephone which is located in a public place and made available for use by the public, or a section of the public, and where such a telephone is located in or on, or attached to, a kiosk, booth, acoustic hood, shelter or other structure, that structure; and “public place” means any place to which the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise, other than— any place to which children under the age of 16 years are not permitted to have access, whether by law or otherwise, and any premises which are wholly or mainly used for residential purposes. (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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47 Application of section 46 by order to public structures

(1) The Secretary of State may, by order, provide for section 46 to apply in relation to any public structure of a description specified in the order as it applies in relation to a public telephone. (2) In this section— “public structure” means any structure that— is provided as an amenity for the use of the public or a section of the public, and is located in a public place; and “public place” and “public telephone” have the same meaning as in section 46. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) The power to make an order under this section is exercisable by statutory instrument. (5) No order may be made under this section unless a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.

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48 Extension to older children

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49 Power for police to make schemes

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50 Additional powers of seizure from premises

(1) Where— (a) a person who is lawfully on any premises finds anything on those premises that he has reasonable grounds for believing may be or may contain something for which he is authorised to search on those premises, (b) a power of seizure to which this section applies or the power conferred by subsection (2) would entitle him, if he found it, to seize whatever it is that he has grounds for believing that thing to be or to contain, and (c) in all the circumstances, it is not reasonably practicable for it to be determined, on those premises— (i) whether what he has found is something that he is entitled to seize, or (ii) the extent to which what he has found contains something that he is entitled to seize, that person’s powers of seizure shall include power under this section to seize so much of what he has found as it is necessary to remove from the premises to enable that to be determined. (2) Where— (a) a person who is lawfully on any premises finds anything on those premises (“the seizable property”) which he would be entitled to seize but for its being comprised in something else that he has (apart from this subsection) no power to seize, (b) the power under which that person would have power to seize the seizable property is a power to which this section applies, and (c) in all the circumstances it is not reasonably practicable for the seizable property to be separated, on those premises, from that in which it is comprised, that person’s powers of seizure shall include power under this section to seize both the seizable property and that from which it is not reasonably practicable to separate it. (3) The factors to be taken into account in considering, for the purposes of this section, whether or not it is reasonably practicable on particular premises for something to be determined, or for something to be separated from something else, shall be confined to the following— (a) how long it would take to carry out the determination or separation on those premises; (b) the number of persons that would be required to carry out that determination or separation on those premises within a reasonable period; (c) whether the determination or separation would (or would if carried out on those premises) involve damage to property; (d) the apparatus or equipment that it would be necessary or appropriate to use for the carrying out of the determination or separation; and (e) in the case of separation, whether the separation— (i) would be likely, or (ii) if carried out by the only means that are reasonably practicable on those premises, would be likely, to prejudice the use of some or all of the separated seizable property for a purpose for which something seized under the power in question is capable of being used. (4) Section 19(6) of the 1984 Act and Article 21(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (powers of seizure not to include power to seize anything that a person has reasonable grounds for believing is legally privileged) shall not apply to the power of seizure conferred by subsection (2). (5) This section applies to each of the powers of seizure specified in Part 1 of Schedule 1. (6) Without prejudice to any power conferred by this section to take a copy of any document, nothing in this section, so far as it has effect by reference to the power to take copies of documents under section 28(2)(b) or 28A(2)(b) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41), shall be taken to confer any power to seize any document. (7) Without prejudice to any power conferred by this section to take a copy of any document, nothing in this section, so far as it has effect by reference to the power to take copies of, or extracts from, information under section 75(2)(h) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 or paragraph 3(2)(h) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025, is to be taken to confer any power to seize any information.

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51 Additional powers of seizure from the person

(1) Where— (a) a person carrying out a lawful search of any person finds something that he has reasonable grounds for believing may be or may contain something for which he is authorised to search, (b) a power of seizure to which this section applies or the power conferred by subsection (2) would entitle him, if he found it, to seize whatever it is that he has grounds for believing that thing to be or to contain, and (c) in all the circumstances it is not reasonably practicable for it to be determined, at the time and place of the search— (i) whether what he has found is something that he is entitled to seize, or (ii) the extent to which what he has found contains something that he is entitled to seize, that person’s powers of seizure shall include power under this section to seize so much of what he has found as it is necessary to remove from that place to enable that to be determined. (2) Where— (a) a person carrying out a lawful search of any person finds something (“the seizable property”) which he would be entitled to seize but for its being comprised in something else that he has (apart from this subsection) no power to seize, (b) the power under which that person would have power to seize the seizable property is a power to which this section applies, and (c) in all the circumstances it is not reasonably practicable for the seizable property to be separated, at the time and place of the search, from that in which it is comprised, that person’s powers of seizure shall include power under this section to seize both the seizable property and that from which it is not reasonably practicable to separate it. (3) The factors to be taken into account in considering, for the purposes of this section, whether or not it is reasonably practicable, at the time and place of a search, for something to be determined, or for something to be separated from something else, shall be confined to the following— (a) how long it would take to carry out the determination or separation at that time and place; (b) the number of persons that would be required to carry out that determination or separation at that time and place within a reasonable period; (c) whether the determination or separation would (or would if carried out at that time and place) involve damage to property; (d) the apparatus or equipment that it would be necessary or appropriate to use for the carrying out of the determination or separation; and (e) in the case of separation, whether the separation— (i) would be likely, or (ii) if carried out by the only means that are reasonably practicable at that time and place, would be likely, to prejudice the use of some or all of the separated seizable property for a purpose for which something seized under the power in question is capable of being used. (4) Section 19(6) of the 1984 Act and Article 21(6) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (powers of seizure not to include power to seize anything a person has reasonable grounds for believing is legally privileged) shall not apply to the power of seizure conferred by subsection (2). (5) This section applies to each of the powers of seizure specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1.

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52 Notice of exercise of power under s. 50 or 51

(1) Where a person exercises a power of seizure conferred by section 50, it shall (subject to subsections (2) and (3)) be his duty, on doing so, to give to the occupier of the premises a written notice— (a) specifying what has been seized in reliance on the powers conferred by that section; (b) specifying the grounds on which those powers have been exercised; (c) setting out the effect of sections 59 to 61; (d) specifying the name and address of the person to whom notice of an application under section 59(2) to the appropriate judicial authority in respect of any of the seized property must be given; and (e) specifying the name and address of the person to whom an application may be made to be allowed to attend the initial examination required by any arrangements made for the purposes of section 53(2). (2) Where it appears to the person exercising on any premises a power of seizure conferred by section 50— (a) that the occupier of the premises is not present on the premises at the time of the exercise of the power, but (b) that there is some other person present on the premises who is in charge of the premises, subsection (1) of this section shall have effect as if it required the notice under that subsection to be given to that other person. (3) Where it appears to the person exercising a power of seizure conferred by section 50 that there is no one present on the premises to whom he may give a notice for the purposes of complying with subsection (1) of this section, he shall, before leaving the premises, instead of complying with that subsection, attach a notice such as is mentioned in that subsection in a prominent place to the premises. (4) Where a person exercises a power of seizure conferred by section 51 it shall be his duty, on doing so, to give a written notice to the person from whom the seizure is made— (a) specifying what has been seized in reliance on the powers conferred by that section; (b) specifying the grounds on which those powers have been exercised; (c) setting out the effect of sections 59 to 61; (d) specifying the name and address of the person to whom notice of any application under section 59(2) to the appropriate judicial authority in respect of any of the seized property must be given; and (e) specifying the name and address of the person to whom an application may be made to be allowed to attend the initial examination required by any arrangements made for the purposes of section 53(2). (5) The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument, after consultation with the Scottish Ministers and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland , provide that a person who exercises a power of seizure conferred by section 50 shall be required to give a notice such as is mentioned in subsection (1) of this section to any person, or send it to any place, described in the regulations. (6) Regulations under subsection (5) may make different provision for different cases. (7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (5) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

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53 Examination and return of property seized under s. 50 or 51

(1) This section applies where anything has been seized under a power conferred by section 50 or 51. (2) It shall be the duty of the person for the time being in possession of the seized property in consequence of the exercise of that power to secure that there are arrangements in force which (subject to section 61) ensure— (a) that an initial examination of the property is carried out as soon as reasonably practicable after the seizure; (b) that that examination is confined to whatever is necessary for determining how much of the property falls within subsection (3); (c) that anything which is found, on that examination, not to fall within subsection (3) is separated from the rest of the seized property and is returned as soon as reasonably practicable after the examination of all the seized property has been completed; and (d) that, until the initial examination of all the seized property has been completed and anything which does not fall within subsection (3) has been returned, the seized property is kept separate from anything seized under any other power. (3) The seized property falls within this subsection to the extent only— (a) that it is property for which the person seizing it had power to search when he made the seizure but is not property the return of which is required by section 54; (b) that it is property the retention of which is authorised by section 56; or (c) that it is something which, in all the circumstances, it will not be reasonably practicable, following the examination, to separate from property falling within paragraph (a) or (b). (4) In determining for the purposes of this section the earliest practicable time for the carrying out of an initial examination of the seized property, due regard shall be had to the desirability of allowing the person from whom it was seized, or a person with an interest in that property, an opportunity of being present or (if he chooses) of being represented at the examination. (5) In this section, references to whether or not it is reasonably practicable to separate part of the seized property from the rest of it are references to whether or not it is reasonably practicable to do so without prejudicing the use of the rest of that property, or a part of it, for purposes for which (disregarding the part to be separated) the use of the whole or of a part of the rest of the property, if retained, would be lawful.

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54 Obligation to return items subject to legal privilege

(1) If, at any time after a seizure of anything has been made in exercise of a power of seizure to which this section applies— (a) it appears to the person for the time being having possession of the seized property in consequence of the seizure that the property— (i) is an item subject to legal privilege, or (ii) has such an item comprised in it, and (b) in a case where the item is comprised in something else which has been lawfully seized, it is not comprised in property falling within subsection (2), it shall be the duty of that person to secure that the item is returned as soon as reasonably practicable after the seizure. (2) Property in which an item subject to legal privilege is comprised falls within this subsection if— (a) the whole or a part of the rest of the property is property falling within subsection (3) or property the retention of which is authorised by section 56; and (b) in all the circumstances, it is not reasonably practicable for that item to be separated from the rest of that property (or, as the case may be, from that part of it) without prejudicing the use of the rest of that property, or that part of it, for purposes for which (disregarding that item) its use, if retained, would be lawful. (3) Property falls within this subsection to the extent that it is property for which the person seizing it had power to search when he made the seizure, but is not property which is required to be returned under this section or section 55. (4) This section applies— (a) to the powers of seizure conferred by sections 50 and 51; (b) to each of the powers of seizure specified in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 1; and (c) to any power of seizure (not falling within paragraph (a) or (b)) conferred on a constable by or under any enactment, including an enactment passed after this Act.

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55 Obligation to return excluded and special procedure material

(1) If, at any time after a seizure of anything has been made in exercise of a power to which this section applies— (a) it appears to the person for the time being having possession of the seized property in consequence of the seizure that the property— (i) is excluded material or special procedure material, or (ii) has any excluded material or any special procedure material comprised in it, (b) its retention is not authorised by section 56, and (c) in a case where the material is comprised in something else which has been lawfully seized, it is not comprised in property falling within subsection (2) or (3), it shall be the duty of that person to secure that the item is returned as soon as reasonably practicable after the seizure. (2) Property in which any excluded material or special procedure material is comprised falls within this subsection if— (a) the whole or a part of the rest of the property is property for which the person seizing it had power to search when he made the seizure but is not property the return of which is required by this section or section 54; and (b) in all the circumstances, it is not reasonably practicable for that material to be separated from the rest of that property (or, as the case may be, from that part of it) without prejudicing the use of the rest of that property, or that part of it, for purposes for which (disregarding that material) its use, if retained, would be lawful. (3) Property in which any excluded material or special procedure material is comprised falls within this subsection if— (a) the whole or a part of the rest of the property is property the retention of which is authorised by section 56; and (b) in all the circumstances, it is not reasonably practicable for that material to be separated from the rest of that property (or, as the case may be, from that part of it) without prejudicing the use of the rest of that property, or that part of it, for purposes for which (disregarding that material) its use, if retained, would be lawful. (4) This section applies (subject to subsection (5)) to each of the powers of seizure specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1. (5) In its application to the powers of seizure conferred by— (a) (b) section 56(5) of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (c. 37), . . . (c) Article 51(5) of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996 1299 (N.I. 6)), and (d) section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, this section shall have effect with the omission of every reference to special procedure material. (6) In this section, except in its application to— (a) the power of seizure conferred by section 8(2) of the 1984 Act, (b) the power of seizure conferred by Article 10(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)), (c) each of the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11), and (d) the power of seizure conferred by paragraphs 15 and 19 of Schedule 5 to that Act of 2000, so far only as the power in question is conferred by reference to paragraph 1 of that Schedule, “special procedure material” means special procedure material consisting of documents or records other than documents. (7) In relation to the powers of seizure mentioned in subsection (8), this section (and section 59(3)(c)) have effect as if— (a) references to excluded material or special procedure material were to confidential material within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023, but not including items subject to legal privilege, and (b) subsection (6) of this section did not apply. (8) The powers of seizure referred to in subsection (7) are the powers conferred by— (a) paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023, and (b) paragraph 12 of that Schedule, so far as conferred by reference to paragraph 2 of that Schedule.

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56 Property seized by constables etc.

(1) The retention of— (a) property seized on any premises by a constable who was lawfully on the premises, (b) property seized on any premises by a relevant person who was on the premises accompanied by a constable, and (c) property seized by a constable carrying out a lawful search of any person, is authorised by this section if the property falls within subsection (2) or (3). (2) Property falls within this subsection to the extent that there are reasonable grounds for believing— (a) that it is property obtained in consequence of the commission of an offence; and (b) that it is necessary for it to be retained in order to prevent its being concealed, lost, damaged, altered or destroyed. (3) Property falls within this subsection to the extent that there are reasonable grounds for believing— (a) that it is evidence in relation to any offence; and (b) that it is necessary for it to be retained in order to prevent its being concealed, lost, altered or destroyed. (4) Nothing in this section authorises the retention (except in pursuance of section 54(2)) of anything at any time when its return is required by section 54. (4A) Subsection (1)(a) includes property seized on any premises— (a) by a person authorised under section 16(2) of the 1984 Act to accompany a constable executing a warrant, or (b) by a person accompanying a constable under section 2(6) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 in the execution of a warrant under section 2(4) of that Act. (5) In subsection (1)(b) the reference to a relevant person’s being on any premises accompanied by a constable is a reference only to a person who was so on the premises under the authority of— (a) a warrant under section 448 of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) authorising him to exercise together with a constable the powers conferred by subsection (3) of that section; (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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57 Retention of seized items

(1) This section has effect in relation to the following provisions (which are about the retention of items which have been seized and are referred to in this section as “the relevant provisions”)— (a) section 22 of the 1984 Act; (b) Article 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)); (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (f) section 448(6) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6); (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (j) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (k) paragraph 7(4) of Schedule 3B to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37); (l) section 5(4) of the Knives Act 1997 (c. 21); (m) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (n) sections 28(7) and 28A(8) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41); (o) sections 122E and 176A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8); (p) paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 3 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36). (pa) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (q) paragraph 5(4) of Schedule 5 to the Human Tissue Act 2004. (r) paragraph 12(3) of Schedule 2 to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. (s) paragraphs 28(7) and 29(8) of Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (t) paragraph 10 of Schedule 15 to the Data Protection Act 2018; (u) paragraph 8 of Schedule 12 to the Online Safety Act 2023; (v) section 75(6) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024; (w) paragraph 3(6) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025. (y) section 24(9) to (16) of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025. (2) The relevant provisions shall apply in relation to any property seized in exercise of a power conferred by section 50 or 51 as if the property had been seized under the power of seizure by reference to which the power under that section was exercised in relation to that property. (3) Nothing in any of sections 53 to 56 authorises the retention of any property at any time when its retention would not (apart from the provisions of this Part) be authorised by the relevant provisions. (4) Nothing in any of the relevant provisions authorises the retention of anything after an obligation to return it has arisen under this Part.

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58 Person to whom seized property is to be returned

(1) Where— (a) anything has been seized in exercise of any power of seizure, and (b) there is an obligation under this Part for the whole or any part of the seized property to be returned, the obligation to return it shall (subject to the following provisions of this section) be an obligation to return it to the person from whom it was seized. (2) Where— (a) any person is obliged under this Part to return anything that has been seized to the person from whom it was seized, and (b) the person under that obligation is satisfied that some other person has a better right to that thing than the person from whom it was seized, his duty to return it shall, instead, be a duty to return it to that other person or, as the case may be, to the person appearing to him to have the best right to the thing in question. (3) Where different persons claim to be entitled to the return of anything that is required to be returned under this Part, that thing may be retained for as long as is reasonably necessary for the determination in accordance with subsection (2) of the person to whom it must be returned. (4) References in this Part to the person from whom something has been seized, in relation to a case in which the power of seizure was exercisable by reason of that thing’s having been found on any premises, are references to the occupier of the premises at the time of the seizure. (5) References in this section to the occupier of any premises at the time of a seizure, in relation to a case in which— (a) a notice in connection with the entry or search of the premises in question, or with the seizure, was given to a person appearing in the occupier’s absence to be in charge of the premises, and (b) it is practicable, for the purpose of returning something that has been seized, to identify that person but not to identify the occupier of the premises, are references to that person.

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59 Application to the appropriate judicial authority

(1) This section applies where anything has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of a relevant power of seizure. (2) Any person with a relevant interest in the seized property may apply to the appropriate judicial authority, on one or more of the grounds mentioned in subsection (3), for the return of the whole or a part of the seized property. (3) Those grounds are— (a) that there was no power to make the seizure; (b) that the seized property is or contains an item subject to legal privilege that is not comprised in property falling within section 54(2); (c) that the seized property is or contains any excluded material or special procedure material which— (i) has been seized under a power to which section 55 applies; (ii) is not comprised in property falling within section 55(2) or (3); and (iii) is not property the retention of which is authorised by section 56; (d) that the seized property is or contains something seized under section 50 or 51 which does not fall within section 53(3); and subsections (5) and (6) of section 55 shall apply for the purposes of paragraph (c) as they apply for the purposes of that section. (4) Subject to subsection (6), the appropriate judicial authority, on an application under subsection (2), shall— (a) if satisfied as to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (3), order the return of so much of the seized property as is property in relation to which the authority is so satisfied; and (b) to the extent that that authority is not so satisfied, dismiss the application. (5) The appropriate judicial authority— (a) on an application under subsection (2), (b) on an application made by the person for the time being having possession of anything in consequence of its seizure under a relevant power of seizure, or (c) on an application made— (i) by a person with a relevant interest in anything seized under section 50 or 51, and (ii) on the grounds that the requirements of section 53(2) have not been or are not being complied with, may give such directions as the authority thinks fit as to the examination, retention, separation or return of the whole or any part of the seized property. (6) On any application under this section, the appropriate judicial authority may authorise the retention of any property which— (a) has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of a relevant power of seizure, and (b) would otherwise fall to be returned, if that authority is satisfied that the retention of the property is justified on grounds falling within subsection (7). (7) Those grounds are that (if the property were returned) it would immediately become appropriate— (a) to issue, on the application of the person who is in possession of the property at the time of the application under this section, a warrant in pursuance of which, or of the exercise of which, it would be lawful to seize the property; or (b) to make an order under— (i) paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the 1984 Act, (ii) paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 to the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)), (iii) section 20BA of the Taxes Management Act 1970 (c. 9), ... (iv) paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11), or (v) paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023, under which the property would fall to be delivered up or produced to the person mentioned in paragraph (a). (8) Where any property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of a relevant power of seizure has parts (“part A” and “part B”) comprised in it such that— (a) it would be inappropriate, if the property were returned, to take any action such as is mentioned in subsection (7) in relation to part A, (b) it would (or would but for the facts mentioned in paragraph (a)) be appropriate, if the property were returned, to take such action in relation to part B, and (c) in all the circumstances, it is not reasonably practicable to separate part A from part B without prejudicing the use of part B for purposes for which it is lawful to use property seized under the power in question, the facts mentioned in paragraph (a) shall not be taken into account by the appropriate judicial authority in deciding whether the retention of the property is justified on grounds falling within subsection (7). (9) If a person fails to comply with any order or direction made or given by a judge of the Crown Court in exercise of any jurisdiction under this section— (a) the authority may deal with him as if he had committed a contempt of the Crown Court; and (b) any enactment relating to contempt of the Crown Court shall have effect in relation to the failure as if it were such a contempt. (10) The relevant powers of seizure for the purposes of this section are— (a) the powers of seizure conferred by sections 50 and 51; (b) each of the powers of seizure specified in Parts 1 and 2 of Schedule 1; and (c) any power of seizure (not falling within paragraph (a) or (b)) conferred on a constable by or under any enactment, including an enactment passed after this Act. (11) References in this section to a person with a relevant interest in seized property are references to— (a) the person from whom it was seized; (b) any person with an interest in the property; or (c) any person, not falling within paragraph (a) or (b), who had custody or control of the property immediately before the seizure. (12) For the purposes of subsection (11)(b), the persons who have an interest in seized property shall, in the case of property which is or contains an item subject to legal privilege, be taken to include the person in whose favour that privilege is conferred. (13) Criminal Procedure Rules may make provision about proceedings under this section on an application to a judge of the Crown Court in England and Wales.

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60 Cases where duty to secure arises

(1) Where property has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 or 51, a duty to secure arises under section 61 in relation to the seized property if— (a) a person entitled to do so makes an application under section 59 for the return of the property; (b) in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, at least one of the conditions set out in subsections (2) and (3) is satisfied; (c) in relation to Scotland, the condition set out in subsection (2) is satisfied; and (d) notice of the application is given to a relevant person. (2) The first condition is that the application is made on the grounds that the seized property is or contains an item subject to legal privilege that is not comprised in property falling within section 54(2). (3) The second condition is that— (a) the seized property was seized by a person who had, or purported to have, power under this Part to seize it by virtue only of one or more of the powers specified in subsection (6); and (b) the application— (i) is made on the ground that the seized property is or contains something which does not fall within section 53(3); and (ii) states that the seized property is or contains special procedure material or excluded material. (4) In relation to property seized by a person who had, or purported to have, power under this Part to seize it by virtue only of one or more of the powers of seizure conferred by— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) section 56(5) of the Drug Trafficking Act 1994 (c. 37), . . . (c) Article 51(5) of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996 1299 (N.I. 6)), or (d) section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the second condition is satisfied only if the application states that the seized property is or contains excluded material (5) In relation to property seized by a person who had, or purported to have, power under this Part to seize it by virtue only of one or more of the powers of seizure specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1 but not by virtue of— (a) the power of seizure conferred by section 8(2) of the 1984 Act, (b) the power of seizure conferred by Article 10(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)), (c) either of the powers of seizure conferred by paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11), or (d) either of the powers of seizure conferred by paragraphs 15 and 19 of Schedule 5 to that Act of 2000 so far as they are conferred by reference to paragraph 1 of that Schedule, the second condition is satisfied only if the application states that the seized property is or contains excluded material or special procedure material consisting of documents or records other than documents. (6) The powers mentioned in subsection (3) are— (a) the powers of seizure specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1; (b) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the 1984 Act (except section 8(2) of that Act); (c) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of Parts 3 and 4 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (except Article 10(2) of that Order); (d) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of paragraph 11 of Schedule 5 to the Terrorism Act 2000; ... (e) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of paragraphs 15 and 19 of that Schedule so far as they are conferred by reference to paragraph 11 of that Schedule. (f) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023; and (g) the powers of seizure conferred by the provisions of paragraph 12 of that Schedule so far as conferred by reference to paragraph 9 of that Schedule. (6A) In relation to the powers of seizure mentioned in subsection (6B)— (a) subsection (3)(b)(ii) applies as if the reference to special procedure material or excluded material were to confidential material within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023, but not including items subject to legal privilege, and (b) subsection (5) of this section does not apply. (6B) The powers of seizure referred to in subsection (6A) are the powers conferred by— (a) paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the National Security Act 2023, and (b) paragraph 12 of that Schedule, so far as conferred by reference to paragraph 2 of that Schedule. (7) In this section “a relevant person” means any one of the following— (a) the person who made the seizure; (b) the person for the time being having possession, in consequence of the seizure, of the seized property; (c) the person named for the purposes of subsection (1)(d) or (4)(d) of section 52 in any notice given under that section with respect to the seizure.

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61 The duty to secure

(1) The duty to secure that arises under this section is a duty of the person for the time being having possession, in consequence of the seizure, of the seized property to secure that arrangements are in force that ensure that the seized property (without being returned) is not, at any time after the giving of the notice of the application under section 60(1), either— (a) examined or copied, or (b) put to any use to which its seizure would, apart from this subsection, entitle it to be put, except with the consent of the applicant or in accordance with the directions of the appropriate judicial authority. (2) Subsection (1) shall not have effect in relation to any time after the withdrawal of the application to which the notice relates. (3) Nothing in any arrangements for the purposes of this section shall be taken to prevent the giving of a notice under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23) (notices for the disclosure of material protected by encryption etc.) in respect of any information contained in the seized material; but subsection (1) of this section shall apply to anything disclosed for the purpose of complying with such a notice as it applies to the seized material in which the information in question is contained. (4) Subsection (9) of section 59 shall apply in relation to any jurisdiction conferred on the appropriate judicial authority by this section as it applies in relation to the jurisdiction conferred by that section.

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62 Use of inextricably linked property

(1) This section applies to property, other than property which is for the time being required to be secured in pursuance of section 61, if— (a) it has been seized under any power conferred by section 50 or 51 or specified in Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 1, and (b) it is inextricably linked property. (2) Subject to subsection (3), it shall be the duty of the person for the time being having possession, in consequence of the seizure, of the inextricably linked property to ensure that arrangements are in force which secure that that property (without being returned) is not at any time, except with the consent of the person from whom it was seized, either— (a) examined or copied, or (b) put to any other use. (3) Subsection (2) does not require that arrangements under that subsection should prevent inextricably linked property from being put to any use falling within subsection (4). (4) A use falls within this subsection to the extent that it is use which is necessary for facilitating the use, in any investigation or proceedings, of property in which the inextricably linked property is comprised. (5) Property is inextricably linked property for the purposes of this section if it falls within any of subsections (6) to (8). (6) Property falls within this subsection if— (a) it has been seized under a power conferred by section 50 or 51; and (b) but for subsection (3)(c) of section 53, arrangements under subsection (2) of that section in relation to the property would be required to ensure the return of the property as mentioned in subsection (2)(c) of that section. (7) Property falls within this subsection if— (a) it has been seized under a power to which section 54 applies; and (b) but for paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of that section, the person for the time being having possession of the property would be under a duty to secure its return as mentioned in that subsection. (8) Property falls within this subsection if— (a) it has been seized under a power of seizure to which section 55 applies; and (b) but for paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of that section, the person for the time being having possession of the property would be under a duty to secure its return as mentioned in that subsection.

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63 Copies

(1) Subject to subsection (3)— (a) in this Part, “seize” includes “take a copy of”, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly; (b) this Part shall apply as if any copy taken under any power to which any provision of this Part applies were the original of that of which it is a copy; and (c) for the purposes of this Part, except sections 50 and 51, the powers mentioned in subsection (2) (which are powers to obtain hard copies etc. of information which is stored in electronic form) shall be treated as powers of seizure, and references to seizure and to seized property shall be construed accordingly; (d) for the purposes of this Part, except sections 50 and 51, the powers in section 75(2)(d) and (f) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 , and in paragraph 3(2)(d) and (f) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025 are to be treated as powers of seizure, and references to seizure and to seized property are to be construed accordingly. (2) The powers mentioned in subsection (1)(c) are any powers which are conferred by— (a) section 19(4) or 20 of the 1984 Act; (b) Article 21(4) or 22 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)); (c) section 46(3) of the Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27); (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (f) section 32(6)(b) of the Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16); (g) Article 34(6)(b) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 762 (N.I. 7)); (ga) section 23E(5)(b) (as read with section 23K(2)) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995; (h) section 28(2)(f) or (g) or 28A(2)(f) or (g) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41); or (i) section 8(2)(c) of the Nuclear Safeguards Act 2000 (c. 5). (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to section 50(6) or 57.

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64 Meaning of “appropriate judicial authority”

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (4), in this Part “appropriate judicial authority” means— (a) in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, a judge of the Crown Court; (b) in relation to Scotland, a sheriff. (2) In this Part “appropriate judicial authority”, in relation to the seizure of items under any power mentioned in subsection (3) and in relation to items seized under any such power, means— (a) in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, the High Court; (b) in relation to Scotland, the Court of Session. (3) Those powers are— (a) the powers of seizure conferred by— (i) section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6); (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (iii) sections 28(2) and 28A(2) of the Competition Act 1998; . . . (iv) section 75(2) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. (aa) the power of seizure conferred by section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, if the power is exercisable for the purposes of a civil recovery investigation ... (within the meaning of Part 8 of that Act); (b) any power of seizure conferred by section 50, so far as that power is exercisable by reference to any power mentioned in paragraph (a). (4) In this Part “appropriate judicial authority”, in relation to the seizure of documents under paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025 and in relation to documents seized under that power, means the High Court.

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65 Meaning of “legal privilege”

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be construed— (a) for the purposes of the application of this Part to England and Wales, in accordance with section 10 of the 1984 Act (meaning of “legal privilege”); (b) for the purposes of the application of this Part to Scotland, in accordance with section 412 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002(interpretation); and (c) for the purposes of the application of this Part to Northern Ireland, in accordance with Article 12 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (meaning of “legal privilege”). (2) In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of— (a) the powers of seizure conferred by section 28(2) or 28A(2) of the Competition Act 1998, or (b) so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be read as references to a privileged communication within the meaning of section 30 of that Act. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3A) In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of— (a) the power of seizure conferred by section 352(4) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, or (b) so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege shall be read as references to privileged material within the meaning of section 354(2) of that Act. (3B) In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of— (a) the power of seizure conferred by section 75(2) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, or (b) so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege are to be read as references to a privileged communication within the meaning of section 81 (privileged communications) of that Act. (3C) In relation to property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of— (a) the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025, or (b) so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to that power, references in this Part to an item subject to legal privilege are to be read as references to a privileged communication within the meaning of section 73(3) of that Act. (4) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of section 452(2) of that Act (privileged information). (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 15 to the Data Protection Act 2018 shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 11 (matters exempt from inspection and seizure: privileged communications) of that Schedule (privileged communications). (8) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 9 of that Schedule (privileged communications). (8A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8B) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise or purported exercise of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 27(1)(b) or 29(1) of Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 27(6) or (as the case may be) 29(6) of that Schedule (privileged documents). (8C) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise or purported exercise of the power of seizure conferred by paragraph 7(f), (j) or (k) of Schedule 12 to the Online Safety Act 2023 is to be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the seizure of that item was in contravention of paragraph 17(3) of that Schedule (privileged information or documents). (9) An item which is, or is comprised in, property which has been seized in exercise, or purported exercise, of so much of any power of seizure conferred by section 50 as is exercisable by reference to a power of seizure conferred by— (a) section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985, (b) Article 441(3) of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 to the Data Protection Act 1998, . . . ... (e) paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000,... or (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (g) paragraph 7(f), (j) or (k) of Schedule 12 to the Online Safety Act 2023. shall be taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege if, and only if, the item would have been taken for the purposes of this Part to be an item subject to legal privilege had it been seized under the power of seizure by reference to which the power conferred by section 50 was exercised.

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66 General interpretation of Part 2

(1) In this Part— “appropriate judicial authority” has the meaning given by section 64; “documents” includes information recorded in any form; “item subject to legal privilege” shall be construed in accordance with section 65; “marine installation” has the meaning given by section 262 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009; “premises” includes any vehicle, stall or moveable structure (including an offshore installation or other marine installation) and any other place whatever, whether or not occupied as land; “offshore installation” has the same meaning as in the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 (c. 61); “return”, in relation to seized property, shall be construed in accordance with section 58, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly; “seize”, and cognate expressions, shall be construed in accordance with section 63(1) and subsection (5) below; “seized property”, in relation to any exercise of a power of seizure, means (subject to subsection (5)) anything seized in exercise of that power; and “vehicle” includes any vessel, aircraft or hovercraft. (2) In this Part references, in relation to a time when seized property is in any person’s possession in consequence of a seizure (“the relevant time”), to something for which the person making the seizure had power to search shall be construed— (a) where the seizure was made on the occasion of a search carried out on the authority of a warrant, as including anything of the description of things the presence or suspected presence of which provided grounds for the issue of the warrant; (b) where the property was seized in the course of a search on the occasion of which it would have been lawful for the person carrying out the search to seize anything which on that occasion was believed by him to be, or appeared to him to be, of a particular description, as including— (i) anything which at the relevant time is believed by the person in possession of the seized property, or (as the case may be) appears to him, to be of that description; and (ii) anything which is in fact of that description; (c) where the property was seized in the course of a search on the occasion of which it would have been lawful for the person carrying out the search to seize anything which there were on that occasion reasonable grounds for believing was of a particular description, as including— (i) anything which there are at the relevant time reasonable grounds for believing is of that description; and (ii) anything which is in fact of that description; (d) where the property was seized in the course of a search to which neither paragraph (b) nor paragraph (c) applies, as including anything which is of a description of things which, on the occasion of the search, it would have been lawful for the person carrying it out to seize otherwise than under section 50 and 51; and (e) where the property was seized on the occasion of a search authorised under section 82 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (seizure of items suspected to have been, or to be intended to be, used in commission of certain offences), as including anything— (i) which is or has been, or is or was intended to be, used in the commission of an offence such as is mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b) of that section; or (ii) which at the relevant time the person who is in possession of the seized property reasonably suspects is something falling within sub-paragraph (i). (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) References in subsection (2) to a search include references to any activities authorised by virtue of any of the following— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) section 29(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (c. 41) (power to enter premises and to inspect and seize goods and documents); (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) section 29(4) of the Consumer Protection Act 1987 (c. 43) (powers of search etc.); (i) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (j) section 32(5) of the Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16) (power to inspect records relating to a food business); (ja) paragraph 5 of Schedule 3B to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. (k) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (l) Article 33(6) of the Food Safety (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (S.I. 1991 762 (N.I. 7)); (m) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (ma) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (n) paragraph 2 of Schedule 5 to the Human Tissue Act 2004 (entry and inspection of licensed premises). (o) regulation 22(4) of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (powers of entry and search etc) (p) sections 26(1), 27(1), 28(1) and 29(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (inspection in connection with licences, inspection in connection with registration, inspection of farm premises and inspection relating to EU obligations). (q) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (r) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (t) Part 4 of Schedule 5 to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (5) References in this Part to a power of seizure include references to each of the powers to take possession of items under— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6); (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (f) section 2(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (c. 38); (g) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (h) sections 28(2)(c) and 28A(2)(c) of the Competition Act 1998 (c. 41); and (i) sections 122D(3) and 176(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8); (j) section 75(2)(j) of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024; (k) paragraph 3(2)(j) of Schedule 8 to the Football Governance Act 2025. and references in this Part to seizure and to seized property shall be construed accordingly. (6) In this Part, so far as it applies to England and Wales— (a) references to excluded material shall be construed in accordance with section 11 of the 1984 Act (meaning of “excluded material”); and (b) references to special procedure material shall be construed in accordance with section 14 of that Act (meaning of “special procedure material”). (7) In this Part, so far as it applies to Northern Ireland— (a) references to excluded material shall be construed in accordance with Article 13 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (meaning of “excluded material”); and (b) references to special procedure material shall be construed in accordance with Article 16 of that Order (meaning of “special procedure material”). (8) References in this Part to any item or material being comprised in other property include references to its being mixed with that other property. (9) In this Part “enactment” includes an enactment contained in Northern Ireland legislation.

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67 Application to officers of Revenue and Customs

The powers conferred by section 114(2) of the 1984 Act and Article 85(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (application of provisions relating to police officers to officers of Revenue and Customs) shall have effect in relation to the provisions of this Part as they have effect in relation to the provisions of that Act or, as the case may be, that Order.

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67A Application to Welsh Revenue Authority

(1) The Welsh Ministers may by regulations— (a) direct that any provision of this Part is to apply, subject to such modifications as the regulations may specify, to investigations of offences conducted by the Welsh Revenue Authority; (b) make provision permitting a person exercising a function conferred on the Welsh Revenue Authority by the regulations to use reasonable force in the exercise of such a function. (2) Regulations under subsection (1) may— (a) make provision that applies generally or only in specified cases, (b) make different provision for different cases or circumstances, and (c) may, in modifying a provision, in particular impose conditions on the exercise of a function. (3) The power to make regulations under subsection (1) is exercisable by statutory instrument. (4) A statutory instrument containing regulations under subsection (1) may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the National Assembly for Wales.

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68 Application to Scotland

(1) In the application of this Part to Scotland— (a) subsection (4) of section 54 and subsection (10) of section 59 shall each have effect with the omission of paragraph (c) of that subsection; (b) section 55 and subsection (3)(c) of section 59 shall be omitted; and (c) Schedule 1 shall have effect as if the powers specified in that Schedule did not include any power of seizure under any enactment mentioned in that Schedule, so far as it is exercisable in Scotland by a constable, except a power conferred by an enactment mentioned in subsection (2). (2) Those enactments are— (a) section 43(5) of the Gaming Act 1968 (c. 65); (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) section 448(3) of the Companies Act 1985 (c. 6); (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (e) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (f) sections 122D(3) and 176(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c. 8). (g) regulation 70(7) of the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017; and (h) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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69 Application to powers designated by order

(1) The Secretary of State may by order— (a) provide for any power designated by the order to be added to those specified in Schedule 1 or section 63(2); (b) make any modification of the provisions of this Part which the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of any provision made by virtue of paragraph (a); (c) make any modification of any enactment making provision in relation to seizures, or things seized, under a power designated by an order under this subsection which the Secretary of State considers appropriate in consequence of any provision made by virtue of that paragraph. (2) Where the power designated by the order made under subsection (1) is a power conferred in relation to Scotland, the Secretary of State shall consult the Scottish Ministers before making the order. (2A) Where the power designated by the order made under subsection (1) is a power conferred in relation to Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State shall consult the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland before making the order. (3) The power to make an order under subsection (1) shall be exercisable by statutory instrument; and no such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House. (4) In this section “modification” includes any exclusion, extension or application.

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70 Consequential applications and amendments of enactments

Schedule 2 (which applies enactments in relation to provision made by this Part and contains minor and consequential amendments) shall have effect.

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71 Arrestable offences

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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72 Importation of indecent or obscene material

In Part 1 of Schedule 5 to each of the 1984 Act and the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989 1341 (N.I. 12)) (serious arrestable offences), after paragraph 8 there shall be inserted— 9 An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2) of being knowingly concerned, in relation to any goods, in any fraudulent evasion or attempt at evasion of a prohibition in force with respect to the goods under section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 (c. 36) (prohibition on importing indecent or obscene articles).

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73 Use of video and telephone links for decisions about detention

(1) The 1984 Act shall be amended as follows. (2) After section 40 there shall be inserted— Use of telephone for review under s. 40 40A (1) This section applies, notwithstanding anything in section 40 above, where in the case of a person who has been arrested but not charged— (a) it is not reasonably practicable for an officer of at least the rank of inspector to be present in the police station where that person is held to carry out any review of that person’s detention that is required by subsection (1)(b) of that section; and (b) the review is not one which regulations under section 45A below authorise to be carried out using video-conferencing facilities, or is one which it is not reasonably practicable, in the circumstances, to carry out using any such facilities. (2) The review may be carried out by an officer of at least the rank of inspector who has access to a means of communication by telephone to persons in the police station where the arrested person is held. (3) Where any review is carried out under this section by an officer who is not present at the station where the arrested person is held— (a) any obligation of that officer to make a record in connection with the carrying out of the review shall have effect as an obligation to cause another officer to make the record; (b) any requirement for the record to be made in the presence of the arrested person shall apply to the making of that record by that other officer; and (c) the requirements under section 40(12) and (13) above for— (i) the arrested person, or (ii) a solicitor representing him, to be given any opportunity to make representations (whether in writing or orally) to that officer shall have effect as a requirement for that person, or such a solicitor, to be given an opportunity to make representations in a manner authorised by subsection (4) below. (4) Representations are made in a manner authorised by this subsection— (a) in a case where facilities exist for the immediate transmission of written representations to the officer carrying out the review, if they are made either— (i) orally by telephone to that officer; or (ii) in writing to that officer by means of those facilities; and (b) in any other case, if they are made orally by telephone to that officer. (5) In this section “video-conferencing facilities” has the same meaning as in section 45A below. (3) After section 45 there shall be inserted— Use of video-conferencing facilities for decisions about detention 45A (1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, the Secretary of State may by regulations provide that, in the case of an arrested person who is held in a police station, some or all of the functions mentioned in subsection (2) may be performed (notwithstanding anything in the preceding provisions of this Part) by an officer who— (a) is not present in that police station; but (b) has access to the use of video-conferencing facilities that enable him to communicate with persons in that station. (2) Those functions are— (a) the functions in relation to an arrested person taken to a police station that is not a designated police station which, in the case of an arrested person taken to a station that is a designated police station, are functions of a custody officer under section 37, 38 or 40 above; and (b) the function of carrying out a review under section 40(1)(b) above (review, by an officer of at least the rank of inspector, of the detention of person arrested but not charged). (3) Regulations under this section shall specify the use to be made in the performance of the functions mentioned in subsection (2) above of the facilities mentioned in subsection (1) above. (4) Regulations under this section shall not authorise the performance of any of the functions mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above by such an officer as is mentioned in subsection (1) above unless he is a custody officer for a designated police station. (5) Where any functions mentioned in subsection (2) above are performed in a manner authorised by regulations under this section— (a) any obligation of the officer performing those functions to make a record in connection with the performance of those functions shall have effect as an obligation to cause another officer to make the record; and (b) any requirement for the record to be made in the presence of the arrested person shall apply to the making of that record by that other officer. (6) Where the functions mentioned in subsection (2)(b) are performed in a manner authorised by regulations under this section, the requirements under section 40(12) and (13) above for— (a) the arrested person, or (b) a solicitor representing him, to be given any opportunity to make representations (whether in writing or orally) to the person performing those functions shall have effect as a requirement for that person, or such a solicitor, to be given an opportunity to make representations in a manner authorised by subsection (7) below. (7) Representations are made in a manner authorised by this subsection— (a) in a case where facilities exist for the immediate transmission of written representations to the officer performing the functions, if they are made either— (i) orally to that officer by means of the video-conferencing facilities used by him for performing those functions; or (ii) in writing to that officer by means of the facilities available for the immediate transmission of the representations; and (b) in any other case if they are made orally to that officer by means of the video-conferencing facilities used by him for performing the functions. (8) Regulations under this section may make different provision for different cases and may be made so as to have effect in relation only to the police stations specified or described in the regulations. (9) Regulations under this section shall be made by statutory instrument and shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament. (10) Any reference in this section to video-conferencing facilities, in relation to any functions, is a reference to any facilities (whether a live television link or other facilities) by means of which the functions may be performed with the officer performing them, the person in relation to whom they are performed and any legal representative of that person all able to both see and to hear each other.

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74 Authorisation for delay in notifying arrest

In section 56(2)(b) of the 1984 Act (authorisation by a constable of at least the rank of superintendent for a delay in allowing an arrested person to notify someone of his arrest and detention), for “superintendent” there shall be substituted “ inspector ”.

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75 Use of video links for proceedings about Terrorism Act detention

In paragraph 33 of Schedule 8 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) (representation at a hearing for a warrant of further detention or for the extension or further extension of the period specified in such a warrant), after sub-paragraph (3) there shall be inserted— (4) A judicial authority may, after giving an opportunity for representations to be made by or on behalf of the applicant and the person to whom the application relates, direct— (a) that the hearing of the application must be conducted, and (b) that all representations by or on behalf of a person for the purposes of the hearing must be made, by such means (whether a live television link or other means) falling within sub-paragraph (5) as may be specified in the direction and not in the presence (apart from by those means) of the applicant, of the person to whom the application relates or of any legal representative of that person. (5) A means of conducting the hearing and of making representations falls within this sub-paragraph if it allows the person to whom the application relates and any legal representative of his (without being present at the hearing and to the extent that they are not excluded from it under sub-paragraph (3))— (a) to see and hear the judicial authority and the making of representations to it by other persons; and (b) to be seen and heard by the judicial authority. (6) If the person to whom the application relates wishes to make representations about whether a direction should be given under sub-paragraph (4), he must do so by using the facilities that will be used if the judicial authority decides to give a direction under that sub-paragraph. (7) Sub-paragraph (2) applies to the hearing of representations about whether a direction should be given under sub-paragraph (4) in the case of any application as it applies to a hearing of the application. (8) A judicial authority shall not give a direction under sub-paragraph (4) unless— (a) it has been notified by the Secretary of State that facilities are available at the place where the person to whom the application relates is held for the judicial authority to conduct a hearing by means falling within sub-paragraph (5); and (b) that notification has not been withdrawn. (9) If in a case where it has power to do so a judicial authority decides not to give a direction under sub-paragraph (4), it shall state its reasons for not giving it.

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