Authorisations to interfere with property under Police Act 1997

Authorisations to interfere with property etc
(1) Where subsection (2) applies, an authorising officer may authorise—
(a) the taking of such action, in respect of such property in the relevant area, as he may specify, or
(b) the taking of such action in the relevant area as he may specify, in respect of wireless telegraphy.
(2) This subsection applies where the authorising officer believes—
(a) that it is necessary for the action specified to be taken on the ground that it is likely to be of substantial value in the prevention or detection of serious crime, and
(b) that what the action seeks to achieve cannot reasonably be achieved by other means.
(3) An authorising officer shall not give an authorisation under this section except on an application made—
(a) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(a) to (e), by a member of his police force,
(b) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(f), by a member of the National Criminal Intelligence Service,
(c) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(g), by a member of the National Crime Squad, or
(d) if the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(h), by a customs officer.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (2), conduct which constitutes one or more offences shall be regarded as serious crime if, and only if,—
(a) it involves the use of violence, results in substantial financial gain or is conduct by a large number of persons in pursuit of a common purpose, or
(b) the offence or one of the offences is an offence for which a person who has attained the age of twenty-one and has no previous convictions could reasonably be expected to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of three years or more,
and, where the authorising officer is within subsection (5)(h), it relates to an assigned matter within the meaning of section 1(1) of the [1979 c. 2.] Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.

For more information visit http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1997/ukpga_19970050_en_6#pt3-pb2-l1g93