Part I
(16) For the purposes of this section (including that Schedule) references to the conduct of any proceedings include references to the proceedings being discontinued and to the taking of any steps (including the bringing of appeals and making of representations in respect of applications for bail) which may be taken in relation to them.
(17) In the application of this section (including that Schedule) to Northern Ireland references to the Attorney General are to be construed as references to him in his capacity as Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
Director’s investigation powers. 2.—(1) The powers of the Director under this section shall be exercisable, but only for the purposes of an investigation under section 1 above, in any case in which it appears to him that there is good reason to do so for the purpose of investigating the affairs, or any aspect of the affairs, of any person.
(2) The Director may by notice in writing require the person whose affairs are to be investigated ("the person under investigation") or any other person whom he has reason to believe has relevant information to attend before the Director at a specified time and place and answer questions or otherwise furnish information with respect to any matter relevant to the investigation.
(3) The Director may by notice in writing require the person under investigation or any other person to produce at a specified time and place any specified documents which appear to the Director to relate to any matter relevant to the investigation or any documents of a specified class which appear to him so to relate; and—
- (a) if any such documents are produced, the Director may—
- (i) take copies or extracts from them;
- (ii) require the person producing them to provide an explanation of any of them;
- (b) if any such documents are not produced, the Director may require the person who was required to produce them to state, to the best of his knowledge and belief, where they are.
(4) Where, on information on oath laid by a member of the Serious Fraud Office, a justice of the peace is satisfied, in relation to any documents, that there are reasonable grounds for believing—
- (a) that—
- (i) a person has failed to comply with an obligation under this section to produce them;
- (ii) it is not practicable to serve a notice under subsection (3) above in relation to them; or
- (iii) the service of such a notice in relation to them might seriously prejudice the investigation; and
- (b) that they are on premises specified in the information,
he may issue such a warrant as is mentioned in subsection (5) below.
(5) The warrant referred to above is a warrant authorising any constable—
- (a) to enter (using such force as is reasonably necessary for the purpose) and search the premises, and
