Powers of entry, search and seizure Section 18: Further provision about search warrants
Subsection (1) ensures that in addition to an application, supporting information in writing, evidence on oath and a complaint on oath should be provided in support of a warrant application in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. Subsection (2) provides for the justice hearing an application for a warrant to seek further information in relation to the application.
	Subsection (3) enables a search warrant to be executed by any relevant police or customs officer and not just the officer who applied for the warrant. If the search warrant so provides, subsection (4) enables authorised persons to accompany a police or customs officer when executing a warrant. Such a person is only permitted if the justice who is issuing the warrant is satisfied that the authorised person would be helpful to the search, for example an officer of the regulator or individuals with expertise in identifying ivory items. Subsection (5) allows a person authorised under subsection (4) to exercise any power conferred onto police or customs officers under a search warrant, but they may only exercise these powers when accompanying, and under the supervision of, a police or customs officer.
	Subsection (6) ensures that police or customs officers applying for search warrants must make reasonable efforts to inform those persons who might be affected by it (for example, the owner or occupier of the premises or the owner of the ivory item in question). Such a warrant would only authorise entry if 48 hours’ notice had been given to those persons who might be affected by it. Subsection (6) allows persons applying for search warrants to do so without informing those persons who might be affected by it only in the situation where giving notice would likely undermine the purpose of the search.
	Subsection (7) gives effect to Schedule 2 which makes further provision about applications for, and the execution of, search warrants in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has similar provisions in its common law. Failure to comply with the requirements in Part 3 of Schedule 2 in respect of the execution of warrants in these jurisdictions would render the entry and search of premises unlawful (subsection (8)).