International Criminal Court (Scotland) Act 2001

Part 2Search warrants

Application for warrant

8A search warrant may be issued under this Part of this schedule by a sheriff on an application made by a person authorised for the purpose under section 19 of this Act.

Effect of warrant

9(1)A search warrant issued under this Part of this schedule authorises any constable—

(a)to enter and search the premises specified in the warrant;

(b)to seize and retain any material found on the search that is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation for the purposes of which the warrant was issued; and

(c)for the purposes of exercising the powers mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) above, to open lockfast places on premises specified in the warrant.

(2)The warrant does not confer any right to seize material that consists of or includes items subject to legal privilege.

Grounds for issue of warrant

10(1)The sheriff may issue a search warrant under this Part of this schedule in the cases mentioned in sub-paragraphs (2), (3) and (5) below.

(2)The case is where the sheriff is satisfied that a production or access order made in relation to material on the premises has not been complied with.

(3)The case is where the sheriff is satisfied—

(a)that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a specified person has benefited from an ICC crime;

(b)that there are grounds for making a production or access order in relation to material on the premises; and

(c)that it would not be appropriate to make a production or access order in relation to the material for any of the reasons mentioned in sub-paragraph (4) below.

(4)The reasons are—

(a)that it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to produce the material;

(b)that it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant access to the material or entitled to grant entry to the premises on which the material is situated; or

(c)that the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made might be seriously prejudiced unless a constable could secure immediate access to the material.

(5)The case is where the sheriff is satisfied—

(a)that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a specified person has benefited from an ICC crime;

(b)that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is material on the premises which cannot be particularised at the time of the application but which—

(i)relates to the specified person, or to the question whether that person has benefited from an ICC crime, or to any question as to the extent or whereabouts of the proceeds of an ICC crime; and

(ii)is likely to be of substantial value (whether by itself or together with other material) to the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made; and

(c)that any of the circumstances mentioned in sub-paragraph (6) below apply.

(6)The circumstances are—

(a)that it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant entry to the premises;

(b)that entry to the premises will not be granted unless a warrant is produced; or

(c)that the investigation for the purposes of which the application is made might be seriously prejudiced unless a constable arriving at the premises could secure immediate entry to them.