{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-entry-search-and-seizure-order-2003/article-9",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-entry-search-and-seizure-order-2003/article-9.json",
  "legislation": "uksi/2003/2273",
  "legislation_title": "The Armed Forces (Entry, Search and Seizure) Order 2003",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/armed-forces-entry-search-and-seizure-order-2003",
  "path": "article/9",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "9",
  "heading": "Execution of warrants",
  "text": "(1) A warrant to enter and search premises may be executed by any service policeman.\n(2) Such a warrant may authorise persons to accompany any service policeman who is executing it.\n(3) Entry and search under a warrant must be within one month from the date of its issue.\n(4) Entry and search under a warrant must be at a reasonable hour unless it appears to the service policeman executing it that the purpose of a search may be frustrated on an entry at a reasonable hour.\n(5) Where the occupier of premises which are to be entered and searched is present at the time when a service policeman seeks to execute a warrant to enter and search them, the service policeman—\n(a) shall identify himself to the occupier and, if not in uniform, shall produce to him documentary evidence that he is a service policeman;\n(b) shall produce the warrant to him; and\n(c) shall supply him with a copy of it.\n(6) Where—\n(a) the occupier of such premises is not present at the time when a service policeman seeks to execute such a warrant; but\n(b) some other person who appears to the service policeman to be in charge of the premises is present,\nparagraph (5) shall have effect as if any reference to the occupier were a reference to that other person.\n(7) If there is no person present who appears to the service policeman to be in charge of the premises, he shall leave a copy of the warrant in a prominent place on the premises.\n(8) A search under a warrant may only be a search to the extent required for the purpose for which the warrant was issued.\n(9) A service policeman executing a warrant shall make an endorsement on it stating—\n(a) whether the articles sought were found; and\n(b) whether any articles were seized, other than articles which were sought.\n(10) A warrant which—\n(a) has been executed, or\n(b) has not been executed within the time authorised for its execution,\nshall be returned to the judicial officer.\n(11) A warrant which is returned under paragraph (10) shall be retained by the judicial officer for at least 2 years from its return.\n(12) If during the period for which a warrant is to be retained the occupier of the premises to which it relates asks to inspect it, he shall be allowed to do so.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "am (1.1.2007)",
      "affecting": "uksi/2006/3244",
      "affecting_title": "The Armed Forces (Entry, Search and Seizure) (Amendment) Order 2006"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/2273/article/9",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T06:00:12.692042+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}