{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971/section-28B",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971/section-28B.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1971/77",
  "legislation_title": "Immigration Act 1971",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971",
  "path": "section/28B",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "28B",
  "heading": "Search and arrest by warrant.",
  "text": "(1) Subsection (2) applies if a justice of the peace is, by written information on oath, satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person (“the suspect”) who is liable to be arrested for a relevant offence is to be found on any premises.\n(2) The justice may grant a warrant authorising any immigration officer or constable to enter, if need be by force, the premises named in the warrant for the purpose of searching for and arresting the suspect.\n(3) Subsection (4) applies if in Scotland the sheriff or a justice of the peace is by evidence on oath satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1).\n(4) The sheriff or justice may grant a warrant authorising any immigration officer or constable to enter, if need be by force, the premises named in the warrant for the purpose of searching for and arresting the suspect.\n(5) “Relevant offence” means an offence under section 24(A1), (B1), (C1), (D1), (E1) , (E1A) or (1)(b), (c), (d), (f) or (h) , 24A 24B, , 26A or 26B..",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 28B inserted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 129; S.I. 2000/168, art. 2, Sch. (which amending provision is extended (with modifications) to Jersey (5.6.2003) by S.I. 2003/1252, art. 2, Sch.)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 28B(5) substituted (28.6.2022 save in so far as it relates to the insertion of s. 24(E1), otherwise prosp.) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 40(5), 87(1); S.I. 2022/590, regs. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1 para. 20 (with Sch. 2 para. 7)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in s. 28B(5) inserted (5.1.2026) by Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (c. 31), ss. 21(9)(a), 65(1); S.I. 2025/1318, reg. 2(d)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 28B(5) substituted (15.1.2018) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), s. 94(1), Sch. 10 para. 18; S.I. 2017/1241, reg. 2(c) (with Sch.) (as amended by S.I. 2018/31, reg. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 28B(5) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(4) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Word in s. 28B(5) inserted (12.7.2016) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 34(5), 94(1); S.I. 2016/603, reg. 3(e) (with transitional provision in S.I. 2016/712, art. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 28B(5) inserted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 150(2) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (1.5.2004) by The Accession (Immigration and Worker Registration) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1219), reg. 9(11)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (22.9.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), ss. 2(11)(a), 48(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (1.1.2007) by The Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/3317), reg. 15(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (29.2.2008) by Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13), ss. 21(3)(a), 62; S.I. 2008/310, art. 2(1) (subject to art. 5)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 28B modified by Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33), s. 109B(1)(a) (as inserted (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 18, 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2)S. 28B modified (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 23(2)(a), 59; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (1.7.2013) by The Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1460), regs. 1(1), 15(3)(a), 18(a) (with reg. 11(8))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "S. 28B modified (1.7.2013) by The Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/1460), regs. 1(1), 18(a) (with reg. 11(8))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C8",
      "text": "Pt. 3 modified by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 33C(6) (as inserted (1.11.2016 for specified purposes, 1.12.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 39(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, regs. 2(a), 5(c))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C9",
      "text": "S. 28B modified by Immigration Act 2014 (c. 22), s. 33C(6) (as inserted (1.11.2016 for specified purposes, 1.12.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Immigration Act 2016 (c. 19), ss. 39(2), 94(1); S.I. 2016/1037, regs. 2(a), 5(c))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C10",
      "text": "Ss. 24-29: amendment to earlier affecting S.I. 1993/1797, Sch. 1 Pt. 1 (11.10.2017 coming into force in accordance with art. 1) by The Immigration (Jersey) (Amendment) Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/981), Sch. Pt. 1 para. 1 (with art. 6)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "word inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2016/19",
      "affecting_title": "Immigration Act 2016"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/77/section/28B",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:49:29.102045+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."
}