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01 March 2024 / Neil Parpworth
Issue: 8061 / Categories: Features , Criminal , Human rights
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Search & seizure: what’s reasonable?

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Neil Parpworth assesses some key & worrying provisions in the Criminal Justice Bill
  • The Criminal Justice Bill expands police powers against citizens.
  • Covers clause 22 on the seizing of bladed articles and suspected stolen goods.
  • Covers clause 24 on warrantless entry and search.

At the time of writing, the latest Criminal Justice Bill is at the Report stage in the House of Commons. It contains a raft of provisions which range from addressing nuisance begging and rough sleeping to introducing a duty of candour in policing. For present purposes, however, the two clauses of particular interest seek to confer additional powers on the police to seize bladed articles and to enter premises to search for and seize stolen goods. Should they become law, such powers will inevitably impact upon the rights and freedoms of citizens. Accordingly, it is important to assess their scope and extent and determine whether they are subject to appropriate safeguards which are likely to prevent their misuse.

Clause 22

This provision seeks to confer

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