Search warrants

[Image credit: “Day 255 – West Midlands Police – Searching using torch (Part of an officers Personal Protective Equipment Kit.” by West Midlands Police is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

The Law Commission has recommended reforms that it says will reduce the number of unlawful search warrants being issued, and to assist in the collection of evidence and investigation of crime.

Currently, a police officer or other investigator applies to a magistrate or a judge for a search warrant. If granted, a warrant grants legal authority to enter premises and search for specified material.

The Law Commission says that the laws governing search warrants are unnecessarily complicated, inconsistent, outdated and inefficient.

What recommendations are being made?

• Strengthening powers; extending the availability of warrants that allow multiple entries to a property, and allowing all properties controlled by an individual to be searched. A police constable will be permitted to search a person found on the premises under the search warrant. The NHS Counter Fraud Authorities will also be given the ability to apply for search warrants.
• Improving procedure; the aim is to reduce the number of mistakes and unlawful warrants. There would be a standard entry warrant application form and a template for entry warrants. There is also a recommendation for an online search warrants application portal.
• Electronic evidence; ensuring officers can access electronic evidence and copy required data whilst on site, possibly to include data stored remotely. Safeguards should be included to ensure that any unneeded date is quickly deleted, and devices returned as soon as is practical.
• Improving safeguards; for example, those being investigated would be given a notice of their powers and rights whilst their property is searched. Non-police investigators would be subject to similar safeguards as the police. There would be clarification of when, and in what form, a search warrant should be given to an occupier, who should also be informed they have the right to ask a legal representative to observe the execution of the warrant.

Errors

Around 40,000 search warrants are issued every year. In 2016 review by the National Crime Agency found that 78.73% of investigations had defective warrants. Of that number, 8.2% had significant deficiencies.

Journalistic material

The Society of Editors has criticised the recommendation that the government review rules on search warrants for obtaining journalistic material.

Although the Law Commission concluded that confidential journalistic material should only be obtained in very limited circumstances, it added that the government should consider whether the law struck the right balance between the competing interests at play and whether the law ought to be reformed.

The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 provides special protection for journalistic material, and the Society of Editors argues that the law around police seizure of journalistic material needs strengthening rather than watering down. This is argued on the basis that journalists need to have confidence that their material remains protected so that they can guarantee source protection in fulfilling a public interest role.

How can we help?

If a search warrant is unlawfully executed, it does not automatically mean that any evidence obtained cannot be used. We can advise you as to the options and make the necessary applications to the court on your behalf. If you would like to discuss any aspect of your case, please contact any member of our vastly experienced Criminal Defence team, for assistance with any criminal law related matter.

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Mr John Stokes (John.Stokes@danielwoodman.co.uk),
Mr Anthony Pearce (Anthony.Pearce@danielwoodman.co.uk) or
Mr Daniel Woodman (Daniel.Woodman@danielwoodman.co.uk).