This section confers power for an authorised officer to seize any relevant article which has been found on a search under section 23 or is not found on a search but appears to the officer to be, or to have been, in the possession of a relevant person. Where legally privileged information cannot be separated from the relevant article, section 24 contains safeguards to ensure it is protected (see section 24).
	Subsection (2) requires a constable to gain authorisation from a police officer of at least the rank of inspector before exercising the power to seize under this section. If an inspector gives an authorisation under subsection (2), an inspector must ensure that, if they authorise a police constable to use these powers, a superintendent is notified as soon as possible (subsection (3)).
	Subsection (4) enables an NCA officer to seize a relevant article under subsection (1) only if the seizure of the article is authorised by an NCA officer at or above a grade that is equivalent to the rank of inspector.
	Subsection (6) enables a constable or an NCA officer to use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of a power under subsection (1).
	Subsection (7) applies the offences of resisting, wilfully obstructing and assaulting an NCA officer to an NCA officer exercising a power under section 24(7).
	Subsection (8) enables an NCA officer to give a relevant article seized by an NCA officer to an immigration officer or the Secretary of State.
	Subsection (9) provides that an authorised officer or the Secretary of State may retain an article for as long as is considered necessary for the purposes of accessing, examining or copying the information, in line with section 26 and how it must, subject to the exceptions set out, be returned once the retention is no longer considered necessary for those purposes.
	Subsection (10) sets out to whom the relevant article must be returned under subsection (9).
	Subsections (11) to (16) set out the process for disposal of a relevant article where it cannot be returned to a person in accordance with subsection (6) and is not required to be dealt with under section 25.
	Subsections (14), (15) and (16) include provisions about the disposal of a relevant article that comes into the possession of a constable of the Police Service of Scotland or a constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Part 1: Border Security Powers of search etc in relation to electronic devices Section 24: Powers to seize and retain relevant articles