Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

Community support officers

8After paragraph 7 insert—

“Search and seizure powers: alcohol and tobacco

7A(1)Where a designation applies this paragraph to any person (“the CSO”), the CSO shall have the powers set out below.

(2)Where—

(a)in exercise of the powers referred to in paragraph 5 or 6 the CSO has imposed, under section 12(2) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 or under section 1 of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997, a requirement on a person to surrender alcohol or a container for alcohol;

(b)that person fails to comply with that requirement; and

(c)the CSO reasonably believes that the person has alcohol or a container for alcohol in his possession,

the CSO may search him for it.

(3)Where—

(a)in exercise of the powers referred to in paragraph 7 the CSO has sought to seize something which by virtue of that paragraph he has a power to seize;

(b)the person from whom he sought to seize it fails to surrender it; and

(c)the CSO reasonably believes that the person has it in his possession,

the CSO may search him for it.

(4)The power to search conferred by sub-paragraph (2) or (3)—

(a)is to do so only to the extent that is reasonably required for the purpose of discovering whatever the CSO is searching for; and

(b)does not authorise the CSO to require a person to remove any of his clothing in public other than an outer coat, jacket or gloves.

(5)A person who without reasonable excuse fails to consent to being searched is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(6)A CSO who proposes to exercise the power to search a person under sub-paragraph (2) or (3) must inform him that failing without reasonable excuse to consent to being searched is an offence.

(7)If the person in question fails to consent to being searched, the CSO may require him to give the CSO his name and address.

(8)Sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 applies in the case of a requirement imposed by virtue of sub-paragraph (7) as it applies in the case of a requirement under paragraph 1A(3); and sub-paragraphs (4) to (5) of paragraph 2 also apply accordingly.

(9)If on searching the person the CSO discovers what he is searching for, he may seize it and dispose of it.

Powers to seize and detain: controlled drugs

7B(1)Where a designation applies this paragraph to any person (“the CSO”), the CSO shall, within the relevant police area, have the powers set out in sub-paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)If the CSO—

(a)finds a controlled drug in a person’s possession (whether or not he finds it in the course of searching the person by virtue of a designation under any paragraph of this Schedule); and

(b)reasonably believes that it is unlawful for the person to be in possession of it,

the CSO may seize it and retain it.

(3)If the CSO—

(a)finds a controlled drug in a person’s possession (as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)); or

(b)reasonably believes that a person is in possession of a controlled drug,

and reasonably believes that it is unlawful for the person to be in possession of it, the CSO may require him to give the CSO his name and address.

(4)If in exercise of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (2) the CSO seizes and retains a controlled drug, he must—

(a)if the person from whom it was seized maintains that he was lawfully in possession of it, tell the person where inquiries about its recovery may be made; and

(b)comply with a constable’s instructions about what to do with it.

(5)A person who fails to comply with a requirement under sub-paragraph (3) is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(6)In this paragraph, “controlled drug” has the same meaning as in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

7C(1)Sub-paragraph (2) applies where a designation applies this paragraph to any person (“the CSO”).

(2)If the CSO imposes a requirement on a person under paragraph 7B(3)—

(a)sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 applies in the case of such a requirement as it applies in the case of a requirement under paragraph 1A(3); and

(b)sub-paragraphs (4) to (5) of paragraph 2 also apply accordingly.”