OpenLegislation

Section 66 Power to enter and seize documentsI1I2C1

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

A justice of the peace may issue a warrant under this section if, on an information on oath laid by the Investigating Authority, he is satisfied—

(a)

that any of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) is met in relation to any documents of a description specified in the information, and

(b)

that the documents are on premises so specified.

(2)

The conditions are—

(a)

that a person has been required by a disclosure notice to produce the documents but has not done so;

(b)

that it is not practicable to give a disclosure notice requiring their production;

(c)

that giving such a notice might seriously prejudice the investigation of an offence to which this Chapter applies.

(3)

A warrant under this section is a warrant authorising an appropriate person named in it—

(a)

to enter and search the premises, using such force as is reasonably necessary;

(b)

to take possession of any documents appearing to be documents of a description specified in the information, or to take any other steps which appear to be necessary for preserving, or preventing interference with, any such documents;

(c)

in the case of any such documents consisting of information recorded otherwise than in legible form, to take possession of any computer disk or other electronic storage device which appears to contain the information in question, or to take any other steps which appear to be necessary for preserving, or preventing interference with, that information;

(d)

to take copies of or extracts from any documents or information falling within paragraph (b) or (c);

(e)

to require any person on the premises to provide an explanation of any such documents or information or to state where any such documents or information may be found;

(f)

to require any such person to give the appropriate person such assistance as he may reasonably require for the taking of copies or extracts as mentioned in paragraph (d).

(4)

A person executing a warrant under this section may take other persons with him, if it appears to him to be necessary to do so.

(5)

A warrant under this section must, if so required, be produced for inspection by the owner or occupier of the premises or anyone acting on his behalf.

(6)

If the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent, a person entering the premises under the authority of a warrant under this section must leave the premises as effectively secured against trespassers as he found them.

(7)

Where possession of any document or device is taken under this section—

(a)

the document may be retained for so long as the Investigating Authority considers that it is necessary to retain it (rather than a copy of it) in connection with the investigation for the purposes of which the warrant was sought, or

(b)

the device may be retained for so long as he considers that it is necessary to retain it in connection with that investigation,

as the case may be.

(8)

If the Investigating Authority has reasonable grounds for believing—

(a)

that any such document or device may have to be produced for the purposes of any legal proceedings, and

(b)

that it might otherwise be unavailable for those purposes,

it may be retained until the proceedings are concluded.

(9)

Nothing in this section authorises a person to take possession of, or make copies of or take extracts from, any document or information which, by virtue of section 64, could not be required to be produced or disclosed under section 62 or 63.

(10)

In the application of this section to Scotland—

(a)

subsection (1) has effect as if, for the words from the beginning to “satisfied—”, there were substituted “ A sheriff may issue a warrant under this section, on the application of a procurator fiscal, if he is satisfied— ”;

(b)

subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) have effect as if, for “in the information”, there were substituted “ in the application ”; and

(c)

subsections (4) to (6) do not have effect.

F1(11)

In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—

(a)

subsection (1) has effect as if, for the words from the beginning to “laid”, there were substituted “A lay magistrate may issue a warrant under this section if, on complaint on oath made”; and

(b)

subsections (1)(a) and (3)(b) have effect as if, for “in the information”, there were substituted “in the complaint”.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1

S. 66(11) inserted (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), s. 31(3), Sch. 3 para. 7; S.I. 2006/2966, art. 3

Modifications

C1

Ss. 60-67 extended (Northern Ireland) (1.12.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 26(1), 31(3); S.I. 2006/2966, art. 3

Commencement

I1

S. 66 in force at 1.4.2006 except to the extent that it extends to S. by S.I. 2005/1521, art. 5(1)

I2

S. 66 in force at 1.4.2006 for S. by S.S.I. 2006/166, art. 2(1)(a)

Notes on Chapter 1

Modifications

C1

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (6.7.2020 at 1.00 p.m.) by The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/680), regs. 1(2), 37

C2

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/135), regs. 1(2), 58; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 3(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C3

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida (United Nations Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/466), regs. 1(2), 46; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 9(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C4

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Burma (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/136), regs. 1(2), 58; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 4(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C5

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/610), regs. 1, 35; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 8(2)

C6

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The South Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/438), regs. 1(2), 56; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 6(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C7

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Lebanon (Sanctions) (Assassination of Rafiq Hariri and others) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/617), regs. 1(2), 30; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 11(2)

C8

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/855), regs. 1(2), 87; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1) (as amended (30.6.2023) by S.I. 2023/713, regs. 1(2), 9)

C9

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/577), regs. 1(2), 33; S.I. 2020/1416, reg. 2(2)

C10

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iraq (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/707), regs. 1(2), 57; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 14(2)

C11

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/573), regs. 1(2), 49; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 11(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C12

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Yemen (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1278), regs. 1(2), 56; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 20(2)

C13

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/618), regs. 1(2), 36; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 14(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C14

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/753), regs. 1(2), 57; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 15(2)

C15

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/600), regs. 1(2), 55; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 12(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C16

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Somalia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/642), regs. 1(2), 70; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 12(2)

C17

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/411), regs. 1(2), 117; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 7(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C18

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/604), regs. 1(2), 56; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 13(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C19

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Mali (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/705), regs. 1(2), 37; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 13(2)

C20

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Unauthorised Drilling Activities in the Eastern Mediterranean (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1474), regs. 1(2), 36; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 24(2)

C21

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/461), regs. 1(2), 63; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 8(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C22

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/554), regs. 1(2), 36; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 10(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C23

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/616), regs. 1(2), 56; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 10(2)

C24

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/948), regs. 1(2), 45; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

C25

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/134), regs. 1(2), 58; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 2(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C26

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Guinea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1145), regs. 1(2), 35; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 3(2)

C27

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/597), regs. 1(2), 35; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 6(2)

C28

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1665), regs. 1(3), 73

C29

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Burundi (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1142), regs. 1(2), 35; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 2(2)

C30

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/433), regs. 1(2), 56; S.I. 2019/627, reg. 5(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C31

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/608), regs. 1(2), 36; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 7(2)

C32

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/792), regs. 1(3), 86; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C33

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (31.12.2020) by The Misappropriation (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1468), regs. 1(2), 36; S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 23(2)

C34

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (26.4.2021 at noon) by The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/488), regs. 1(2), 36

C35

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (29.4.2021 at 5.00 p.m.) by The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/496), regs. 1(3), 67

C36

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (14.12.2021) by The Burundi (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1404), regs. 1(2), 36

C37

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (28.12.2022) by The Haiti (Sanctions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1281), regs. 1(2), 47

C38

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (14.12.2023) by The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1314), regs. 1(2), 86 (with regs. 98-100)

C39

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (10.10.2024) by The Trade, Aircraft and Shipping Sanctions (Civil Enforcement) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024/948), regs. 1(2), 30 (with regs. 14, 29)

C40

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (23.7.2025) by The Global Irregular Migration and Trafficking in Persons Sanctions Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/902), regs. 1(2), 47

C41

Pt. 2 Ch. 1 applied (15.10.2026) by The Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/1071), regs. 1(2), 47 (with regs. 49-51)