OpenLegislation

Section 7 Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 etc powersI1I2

England and Wales

(1)

The provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 listed in subsection (2) apply in relation to investigations of offences of fraud against a public authority that are conducted by authorised investigators in the exercise of the Minister’s function under section 1(1)(a) as they apply in relation to investigations of offences conducted by police officers, subject to the modifications in Schedule 1.

(2)

The provisions are—

(a)

section 8(1) to (5) (power of justice of the peace to authorise entry and search of premises);

(b)

section 9(1) and Schedule 1 (special provisions as to access);

(c)

section 15 (search warrants: safeguards);

(d)

section 16 (execution of warrants);

(e)

section 19 (general power of seizure etc);

(f)

section 20 (extension of powers of seizure to computerised information);

(g)

section 21 (access and copying);

(h)

section 22 (retention);

(i)

sections 10 to 14, 23 and 118 (interpretation provisions), so far as necessary for the application of the provisions mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (h).

(3)

An authorised investigator is an individual who is authorised by the Minister to exercise the powers conferred by this section.

(4)

An individual may not be an authorised investigator unless the individual—

(a)

is employed in the civil service of the state in the Minister’s department, and

(b)

is a higher executive officer or has a grade that is equivalent to, or higher than, that of a higher executive officer.

Annotations

Commencement

I1

S. 7 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 109(1)

I2

S. 7 in force at 1.4.2026 by S.I. 2026/371, reg. 2(a)