{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971/section-28C",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971/section-28C.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1971/77",
  "legislation_title": "Immigration Act 1971",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/immigration-act-1971",
  "path": "section/28C",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "28C",
  "heading": "Search and arrest without warrant.",
  "text": "(1) An immigration officer may enter and search any premises for the purpose of arresting a person for an offence under section 25 or 25A.\n(2) The power may be exercised—\n(a) only to the extent that it is reasonably required for that purpose; and\n(b) only if the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person whom he is seeking is on the premises.\n(3) In relation to premises consisting of two or more separate dwellings, the power is limited to entering and searching—\n(a) any parts of the premises which the occupiers of any dwelling comprised in the premises use in common with the occupiers of any such other dwelling; and\n(b) any such dwelling in which the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that the person whom he is seeking may be.\n(4) The power may be exercised only if the officer produces identification showing that he is an immigration officer (whether or not he is asked to do so).",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 28C inserted (14.2.2000) by 1999 c. 33, s. 130; 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. 28C(1) substituted (10.2.2003) by 2002 c. 41, s. 144(5) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 28C(1) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 (Consequential, Saving, Transitional and Transitory Provisions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1309), reg. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(a)(vi) (with Sch. 1 para. 1(5))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 28C applied (1.12.2004) by Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 (c. 19), s. 14(3)(a); S.I. 2004/2999, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "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)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "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))"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/77/section/28C",
    "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."
}