SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 3SEARCH WARRANTS: ENGLAND AND WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND
PART 3EXECUTION OF SEARCH WARRANTS
13Return and retention of warrant
1
A search warrant must be returned to the appropriate person (see sub-paragraph (2))—
a
when the warrant has been executed, or
b
on or before the expiry of the period of one month from the date of its issue, if the warrant is—
i
a specific-premises warrant that has not been executed,
ii
an all-premises warrant, or
iii
a warrant authorising multiple entries.
2
The appropriate person is—
a
in the case of a warrant issued in England and Wales, the designated officer for the local justice area in which the justice of the peace was acting when issuing the warrant;
b
in the case of a warrant issued in Northern Ireland, the clerk of petty sessions for the petty sessions district in which the lay magistrate was acting when issuing the warrant.
3
The appropriate person must retain a search warrant returned under sub-paragraph (1) for 12 months from the date of its return.
4
If during that period the occupier of premises to which the search warrant relates asks to inspect it, the occupier must be allowed to do so.
5
In this paragraph “specific-premises warrant” and “all-premises warrant” have the meaning given by section 39(3).