Extent Information
E1Act (except s. 16 which applies to England and Wales) applies to Scotland only see s. 137(9).
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Act excluded (19. 12. 1991) by City of Edinburgh District Council Order Confirmation Act (c. xix), ss. 1, 12(2), Sch. Pt. V
Commencement Information
I1Act partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 137(2); Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1985 see S.I. 1983/201 as amended by S.I. 1984/573 and 744.
F1(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)The owner, tenant or occupier of any property in, upon, or in respect of, which an offence to which this section applies is being committed or any person authorised by him may apprehend any person whom the owner or, as the case may be, the tenant, occupier or authorised person finds committing that offence and detain the apprehended person until [F2the arrival] of a constable.
In this subsection “property” means heritable or moveable property.
(4)This section applies to offences under sections 50, 57 and 58 of this Act.
F3(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 59(1)(2) repealed (25.1.2018) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1), s. 117(2), sch. 2 para. 7(a); S.S.I. 2017/345, art. 3, sch.
F2Words in s. 59(3) substituted (25.1.2018) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1), s. 117(2), sch. 2 para. 7(b); S.S.I. 2017/345, art. 3, sch.
F3S. 59(5) repealed (25.1.2018) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 1), s. 117(2), sch. 2 para. 7(a); S.S.I. 2017/345, art. 3, sch.
(1)Subject to subsection (2) and (3) below, if a constable has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is in possession of any stolen property, the constable may without warrant—
(a)search that person or anything in his possession, and detain him for as long as is necessary for the purpose of that search;
(b)enter and search any vehicle or vessel in which the constable suspects that that thing may be found, and for that purpose require the person in control of the vehicle or vessel to stop it and keep it stopped;
(c)enter and search any premises occupied by a second-hand dealer or a metal dealer for the purposes of his business;
(d)seize and detain anything found in the course of any such search which appears to the constable to have been stolen or to be evidence of the commission of the crime of theft
and may, in doing so, use reasonable force.
In this subsection “second-hand dealer” and “metal dealer” have the meanings respectively assigned to them by sections 24(2) and 37(1) of this Act.
(2)The power under subsection (1)(b) above to require the person in charge of a vehicle or vessel to stop it shall be exercisable only by a constable in uniform.
(3)A constable who is not in uniform shall not be entitled to exercise the powers which he may exercise under subsection (1)(a) to (c) above until he has produced his identification—
(a)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsection (1)(a) above, to the person in respect of whom the powers are exercised;
(b)in relation to the exercise of powers under subsections (1)(b) or (c) above, to the person for the time being in charge of the vehicle, vessel or premises and to any other person in or on the vehicle, vessel or premises who, having reasonable cause to do so, requests to see it.
(4)In subsection (1) above “theft” includes any aggravation of theft including robbery.
(5)Nothing in [F4section 54(2A) of this Act or] this section prejudices any power of entry or search or any power to seize or detain property or any power to require any vehicle or vessel to be stopped [F5which is otherwise exercisable by a constable].
(6)Any person who, without reasonable excuse—
(a)fails to allow a constable [F6to enter and search—,
(i)any premises in pursuance of section 54(2A) of this Act or of subsection (1) above; or
(ii)any vehicle or vessel in pursuance of the said subsection (1)], or seize and detain anything found in the course of such searsh;
(b)when required by a constable in pursuance of subsection (1) above to stop a vehicle or vessel and keep it stopped, fails to do so; or
(c)obstructs a constable in the exercise of his powers under [F7section 54(2A) of this Act or]subsection (1) above;
shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding [F8level 3 on the standard scale].
Textual Amendments
F4Words in s. 60(5) inserted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(a)(i); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)
F5Words in s. 60(5) substituted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(a)(ii); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)
F6Words and s. 60(6)(a)(i)(ii) substituted for words in s. 60(6)(a) substituted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(b)(i); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)
F7Words in s. 60(6)(c) inserted (1.12.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 24(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)
F8Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G
(1)Where—
(a)any premises have been left open, unlocked or otherwise insecure; and
(b)in the opinion of a constable, the insecurity of the premises is likely to conduce to the commission of an offence,
the constable may take such reasonable steps as he may consider necessary to make the premises secure.
(2)Any reasonable expense incurred by a constable in making any premises secure under subsection (1) above may be recovered by the [F9Scottish Police Authority] from the occupier (or, where there is no occupier, from the tenant or, where there is no occupier or tenant, from the owner) of the premises.
Textual Amendments
F9Words in s. 61(2) substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), sch. 7 para. 6(3); S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)