Miscellaneous and general
16AF1Northern Ireland: search warrants for offences under section 1
1
Where a county court judge is satisfied by information on oath given by a constable that there are reasonable grounds for believing—
a
that an offence under section 1 above has been or is about to be committed in any premises, and
b
that evidence that such an offence has been or is about to be committed is in those premises,
he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises, using such reasonable force as is necessary.
2
The power conferred by subsection (1) above does not extend to authorising a search for material of the kinds mentioned in Article 11(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (privileged, excluded and special procedure material).
3
A warrant under this section—
a
may authorise persons to accompany any constable executing the warrant; and
b
remains in force for twenty-eight days from the date of its issue.
4
In exercising a warrant issued under this section a constable may seize an article if he reasonably believes that it is evidence that an offence under section 1 above has been or is about to be committed.
5
In this section “ premises ” includes land, buildings, movable structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft.
6
This section extends only to Northern Ireland.