{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/copyright-designs-and-patents-act-1988/section-109",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/copyright-designs-and-patents-act-1988/section-109.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1988/48",
  "legislation_title": "Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/copyright-designs-and-patents-act-1988",
  "path": "section/109",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "109",
  "heading": "Search warrants.",
  "text": "(1) Where a justice of the peace (in Scotland, a sheriff or justice of the peace) is satisfied by information on oath given by a constable (in Scotland, by evidence on oath) that there are reasonable grounds for believing—\n(a) that an offence under section 107(1), (2) or (2A) has been or is about to be committed in any premises, and\n(b) that evidence that such an offence has been or is about to be committed is in those premises,\nhe may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises, using such reasonable force as is necessary.\n(2) The power conferred by subsection (1) does not, in England and Wales, extend to authorising a search for material of the kinds mentioned in section 9(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (certain classes of personal or confidential material).\n(3) A warrant under this section—\n(a) may authorise persons to accompany any constable executing the warrant, and\n(b) remains in force for three months from the date of its issue.\n(4) In executing a warrant issued under this section a constable may seize an article if he reasonably believes that it is evidence that any offence under section 107(1), (2) or (2A) has been or is about to be committed.\n(5) In this section “premises” includes land, buildings fixed or, moveable structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 109(1)(a) substituted (31.10.2003) by The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), reg. 26(2)(i) (with regs. 31-40)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 109(3)(b) substituted (1.1.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 174(1), 178, Sch. 16 para. 6(2); S.I. 2005/3495, art. 2(1)(s) (subject to art. 2(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 109(4) substituted (31.10.2003) by The Copyright and Related Rights Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2498), reg. 26(2)(ii) (with regs. 31-40)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 109(5) inserted (20.11.2002) by 2002 c. 25, s. 2(2)(c); S.I. 2002/2749, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "M",
      "label": "M1",
      "text": "1984 c. 60."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 109(4): power of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-54, 68, 138(2) Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 48; S.I. 2003/708, art. 2S. 109(4) modified (E.W.N.I.) (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 55, 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 3 para. 106 (with s. 57(3)); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/109",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:47:40.311838+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."
}