{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-law-consolidation-scotland-act-1995/section-27",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-law-consolidation-scotland-act-1995/section-27.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1995/39",
  "legislation_title": "Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-law-consolidation-scotland-act-1995",
  "path": "section/27",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "27",
  "heading": "Lord Advocate’s direction.",
  "text": "(1) Where it appears to the Lord Advocate—\n(a) that a suspected offence may involve serious or complex fraud; and\n(b) that, for the purpose of investigating the affairs or any aspect of the affairs of any person, there is good reason to do so,\nhe may give a direction under this section.\n(2) The Lord Advocate may also give a direction under this section by virtue of section 15(4) of the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 or on a request made by the Attorney-General of the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey acting under legislation corresponding to this Part of this Act.\n(3) Where a direction is given under this section, this Part of this Act shall apply as regards the investigation of the offence; and any person (other than a constable) nominated by the Lord Advocate either generally or in respect of a particular case (in this Part of this Act referred to as “a nominated officer”) shall be entitled to exercise the powers and functions conferred by this Part of this Act.\n(4) A direction under this section shall be signed by the Lord Advocate.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 27(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/742), regs. 1, 78 (with reg. 84) ( as amended by S.I. 2020/1408, regs. 1, 27); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/27",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:32:48.291267+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."
}