Powers of entry, search and seizure Section 21: Powers of seizure etc
This section enables a police or customs officer to seize and detain any item found in the course of a search they are permitted to carry out under sections 14 to18. An item may only be detained if the officer reasonably believes it to be relevant evidence, as defined under section 14(4). Items may also be seized for the purpose of determining whether any such offence has been committed. The power also extends to taking copies or extracts of any documents or records, such as invoices, receipts or agreements or offers to sell, found on the premises that could be used as evidence of an offence. The power to seize and detain, remove, or take copies of, or extracts from, a document or record, extends to documents or records produced to the officer under the powers in section 20. These powers apply to a police or customs officer searching a person, vehicle or vessel (with or without a warrant) or any premises (under a warrant) or to a police or customs officer who is lawfully on the premises for some other purpose. The powers of seizure in this section do not extend to excluded items as defined in section 23.