Commentary on Sections Power to remove documents for examination Section 1 – Power to remove documents for examination
15.Section 1 provides a new power for a constable to remove documents in the course of a terrorist-related search for the purpose of ascertaining whether they may be seized. Documents removed under section 1 may, subject to the time limits in section 5, be retained until the examination is complete. This power might be used, for example, to remove documents in a foreign language for translation.
16.Subsection (1) specifies the situations in which the new power may be used: it may only be used in the context of searches under the listed provisions of the Terrorism Act 2000 (the 2000 Act), the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 and the Terrorism Act 2006.
17.Subsection (3) makes provision in relation to documents stored in an electronic form.
18.Subsection (4) provides that where a document is removed under this power, a constable has the same powers of seizure (at common law and under statute) as if it had not been removed. This will include the general power of seizure under section 19 of PACE which allows a constable lawfully on premises to seize a document if the constable reasonably believes that it is evidence in relation to any offence and it is necessary to seize it in order to prevent the evidence being concealed, lost, altered or destroyed.