{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978/section-4",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978/section-4.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/37",
  "legislation_title": "Protection of Children Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/protection-of-children-act-1978",
  "path": "section/4",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "4",
  "heading": "Entry, search and seizure.",
  "text": "(1) The following applies where a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath, laid by or on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions or by a constable, that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that, in any premises ..., there is an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child.\n(2) The justice may issue a warrant under his hand authorising any constable to enter (if need be by force) and search the premises . . ., and to seize and remove any articles which he believes (with reasonable cause) to be or include indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children . . . .\n(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(4) In this section “ premises ” has the same meaning as in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (see section 23 of that Act).",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) omitted (1.4.2005) by virtue of Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), s. 110(1), Sch. 8 para. 199(2), 10; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words substituted by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 170, Sch. 8 para. 16, Sch. 15 para. 61(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(1) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(2), Sch. 10 para. 37(3)(a); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch.1 Appendix B"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) repealed (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(1)(3), Sch. 9 para. 23(a), Sch.11; S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch.1 Appendix C"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in s. 4(2) inserted (3.2.1995) by 1994 c. 33, s. 168(2), Sch. 10 para. 37(3); S.I. 1995/127, art. 2(1), Sch.1 Appendix B"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words repealed by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 170, Sch. 8 para. 16, Sch. 15 para. 61(2), Sch. 16"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "S. 4(3) omitted (1.4.2008) by virtue of Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 39(2)(a), 53(1), Sch. 15 Pt. 4; S.I. 2008/790, art. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "S. 4(4) substituted (1.4.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 39(2)(b), 53(1); S.I. 2008/790, art. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 4 applied (6.4.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), ss. 67(1)(a), 182(5) (with s. 180); S.I. 2010/816, art. 2, Sch. para. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "S. 4 applied (3.5.2015) by Serious Crime Act 2015 (c. 9), ss. 69(5)(a), 88(1); S.I. 2015/820, reg. 2(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "S. 4(2): power of seizure extended (prosp.) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 50, 52-55, 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 21S. 4(2) modified (prosp.) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 55, 68, 138(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 3 para. 98 (with s. 57(3))"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "S. 4(2) powers of seizure extended (1.4.2003) by Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16), ss. 50, 138(2), Sch. 1 para. 21 (with ss. 52-54, 68); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "S. 4(2) modified (1.4.2003) by Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16), ss. 55, 138(2), Sch. 1 para. 98 (with ss. 57(3), 68); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C6",
      "text": "S. 4(3) applied (prosp.) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 70, 138(2), Sch. 2 Pt. 1 para. 10(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C7",
      "text": "S. 4(3)(5) applied (1.4.2003) by Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c. 16), s. 138(2), Sch. 2 para. 10(2)(b); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(k); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(k)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/37/section/4",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:21:48.620806+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."
}