Section 19 — Powers of examination etc
This version in force from 2022-06-06
Snapshot: 2026-08-24
Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). Amendments made after 2026-08-24 may not be reflected — always check the official text .
(1) This section applies where a police or customs officer is exercising a power of search conferred by section 15, 16 or 17 in relation to any premises.
(2) The officer may carry out any examination or measurement of anything on the premises that the officer thinks is or may be relevant evidence.
(3) The officer may break open any container or other locked thing if satisfied that it is necessary to do so for the purpose of—
(a) determining whether a relevant offence has been committed, or
(b) investigating a relevant offence.
(4) The officer may require any person on the premises to provide any help or facilities, with respect to matters under the person's control, that the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of—
(a) a power of search conferred on the officer by section 15, 16 or 17, or
(b) a power conferred on the officer by this section.
(5) Nothing in this section confers any power to search a person.