to secure that the item is not removed or otherwise interfered with until such time as the officer may seize and remove it.
46Notices and records in relation to seized items
(1) This section applies where a relevant enforcement officer, or a person accompanying a relevant enforcement officer, seizes any item under section 43.
(2) When the item is seized, the officer must make reasonable efforts to give written notice to each of the following persons—
- (a) in the case of an item seized from a person, the person from whom the item was seized;
- (b) in the case of an item seized from premises, any person who appears to the officer to be the occupier of the premises or otherwise to be in charge of the premises;
- (c) if the officer thinks that the item may belong to any person not falling within paragraph (a) or (b), that other person.
A person falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c) is referred to in this section as an “affected person”.
(3) If—
- (a) the item is seized from premises, and
- (b) at the time of the seizure it is not reasonably practicable to give a notice to any affected person,
the officer must leave a copy of the notice in a prominent place on the premises.
(4) The notice must—
- (a) state what has been seized and the reason for its seizure;
- (b) specify any offence which the officer believes has been committed;
- (c) explain the effect of sections 49 to 51 and 53.
(5) The officer must make a record of what has been seized.
(6) If a person who appears to a relevant enforcement officer to be an affected person asks for a copy of that record, the officer must, within a reasonable time, provide a copy of that record to that person.
47Powers of entry, search and seizure: supplementary provision
(1) A relevant enforcement officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, for the purpose of exercising any power conferred by sections 36 to 45.
(2) A person authorised under section 40(5) to accompany a relevant enforcement officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, for the purpose of exercising any power conferred by sections 39 to 45.
(3) The powers conferred on a relevant enforcement officer by any of sections 36 to 45 do not affect any powers exercisable by the officer apart from that section.
48Offences in relation to enforcement officers
(1) A person commits an offence if, without reasonable excuse, the person intentionally obstructs a relevant enforcement officer in the performance of any of the officer’s functions under sections 36 to 45.
(2) A person commits an offence if—
