Rule 47.29 Application for warrant under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987I1

England and Wales

(1)

This rule applies where an applicant wants a magistrates’ court to issue a warrant or warrants under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987^f1.

(2)

As well as complying with rule 47.26, the application must—

(a)

describe the investigation being conducted by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office and include—

(i)

an explanation of what is alleged and why, and

(ii)

a chronology of relevant events;

(b)

specify the document, documents or description of documents sought by the applicant (and see paragraphs (3) and (4)); and

(c)

specify the premises which the applicant wants to be searched (and see paragraph (5)).

(3)

In relation to each document or description of documents sought, the application must—

(a)

explain the grounds for believing that each such document—

(i)

relates to a matter relevant to the investigation, and

(ii)

could not be withheld from disclosure or production on grounds of legal professional privilege;

(b)

explain the grounds for believing that—

(i)

a person has failed to comply with a notice by the Director to produce the document or documents,

(ii)

it is not practicable to serve such a notice, or

(iii)

the service of such a notice might seriously impede the investigation; and

(c)

if the document or documents may be stored in an electronic device or devices—

(i)

so far as practicable, describe each device or kind of device sought, and

(ii)

explain the grounds for believing that the document or documents may be stored there.

(4)

In relation to any document or description of documents which the applicant wants to be preserved but not seized under a warrant, the application must—

(a)

specify the steps for which the applicant wants the court’s authority in order to preserve and prevent interference with the document or documents; and

(b)

explain why such steps are necessary.

(5)

In respect of each set of premises which the applicant wants to be searched, the application must explain the grounds for believing that a document or description of documents sought by the applicant is on those premises.

(6)

If the court so directs, the applicant must make available to the court material on which is based the information given under paragraph (2).

[Note. Under section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987, where the Director of the Serious Fraud Office is investigating a case of serious or complex fraud a member of that Office may apply to a justice of the peace for a warrant authorising a search of specified premises for documents relating to any matter relevant to the investigation. Under section 66 of the Courts Act 2003^f2, a Circuit judge can exercise the power to issue a warrant.

Under section 16(3) of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, entry and search under a warrant must be within 3 months from the date of its issue.]

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Rule 47.29 in force at 6.10.2025, see Preamble

Footnotes

f1: 1987 c. 38; section 2 was amended by sections 143 and 170 of, and paragraph 113 of Schedule 15 to, the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33), section 164 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (c. 33), paragraph 20 of Schedule 3 to the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 (c. 23), paragraph 23 of Schedule 2 to the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16), paragraphs 11 and 12 of Schedule 5 to the Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32) and section 12 of, and paragraphs 11, 12 and 13 of Schedule 1 to, the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44).
f2: 2003 c. 39; section 66 was amended by paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18) and sections 17 and 21 of, and paragraphs 83 and 90 of Schedule 10 and paragraph 4 of Schedule 14 to, the Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22).

Notes on Part 47

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Pt. 47 Table of Contents omitted (6.4.2026) by virtue of The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2026 (S.I. 2026/47), rules 3, 10(c)(i)