Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 20

Extension of powers of seizure to computerised information

Part II Powers of Entry, Search and Seizure

(1)Every power of seizure which is conferred by an enactment to which this section applies on a constable who has entered premises in the exercise of a power conferred by an enactment shall be construed as including a power to require any information [F90stored in any electronic formF90] contained in a computer and accessible from the premises to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible [F91or from which it can readily be produced in a visible and legible formF91] .

(2)This section applies—

(a)to any enactment contained in an Act passed before this Act;

(b)to sections 8 and 18 above;

(c)to paragraph 13 of Schedule 1 to this Act; and

(d)to any enactment contained in an Act passed after this Act.

Definitions used in section 20 1

premises

“premises” has the meaning assigned to it by section 23 above;

Defined in s.118(1) · see it in the full Act

“premises” includes any place and, in particular, includes—

(a)

any vehicle, vessel, aircraft or hovercraft;

(b)

any offshore installation;

(ba)

any renewable energy installation;

(c)

any tent or movable structure; . . .

Defined in s.23 · see it in the full Act

Cases considering section 20 8

Cabot Global Ltd & Ors v Barkingside Magistrates' Court & Ors

[2015] EWHC 1458 (Admin) · 20 May 2015Limits

Confirms that section 20 extends seizure powers to accessible electronic information. It does not make those powers the exclusive route where a section 8 warrant lawfully specifies electronic devices. (see paras [4]; [28]; [41]-[42]; [51])

Regina v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, Ex p Rottman

[2002] UKHL 20 · 16 May 2002

Lord Rodger explained that section 20 supplied powers concerning computer information within PACE's statutory scheme of search and seizure. It was not the source of authority in this extradition case. (see paras [85]-[86])

Preston Borough Council v McGrath

[2000] EWCA Civ 151 · 12 May 2000Limits

Section 20 was identified with sections 18, 19 and 22 as part of the statutory framework governing police material. The judgment relied on that framework to distinguish statutory duties from an implied undertaking to the court (see “The main issue”).

What each judgment says about section 20 is in the case-law panel in the full Act.

Amendments and notes

16 notes from legislation.gov.uk

Amendments

  1. F90Words in s. 20(1) substituted (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, s. 70, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 13(1)(a)(2)(a); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(c)(k)
  2. F91Words in s. 20(1) inserted (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, s. 70, Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 13(1)(b)(2)(a); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(c)(k)

Modifications

  1. C164Ss. 8, 9, 15, 16, 17(1)(b(2) (4), 18–20, 21, 22(1)–(4), 28, 29, 30(1)–(4)(a)(5)–(11), 31, 32(1)–(9), 34(1)–(5), 35, 36, 37, 39, 40–44, 50, 51(d), 52, 54, 55, 64(1)–(4)(5)(6), Sch. 1 applied with modifications by S.I. 1985/1800, arts. 3–11, Schs. 1, 2
  2. C165S. 20 modified (1.4.2003) by 2001 c. 16, ss. 63, 138(2); S.I. 2003/708, art. 2(a)
  3. C166S. 20 modified (2.12.2002) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), s. 38, Sch. 4 Pt. 2 para. 16(g); S.I. 2002/2750, art. 2(a)(ii)(d)
  4. C167S. 20 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2003) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/425), art. 5(9)
  5. C168S. 20 excluded (1.4.2003) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Investigations in different parts of the United Kingdom) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/425), art. 15(8)
  6. C169S. 20 applied (25.7.2003) by The Advanced Television Services Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1901), reg. 8, Sch. para. 12
  7. C170S. 20 applied (with modifications) (25.6.2013) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 3(2)-(4), Sch. 1 (with arts. 4-11)
  8. C171S. 20 applied (with modifications) (25.6.2013) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 12(2)-(4), Sch. 2 (with arts. 13-31)
  9. C172S. 20 applied (with modifications) (4.11.2015) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Revenue and Customs) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1783), arts. 1, 3(1), Sch. 1 (with art. 3(2), (3), 4-19, Sch. 2)
  10. C173S. 20 applied (with modifications) (30.4.2017) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Labour Abuse Prevention Officers) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/520), regs. 1, 2, 3(k), Sch.
  11. C174S. 20 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2018) by The Welsh Revenue Authority (Powers to Investigate Criminal Offences) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/400), regs. 1(2), 3(1)(3), Sch. (with regs. 4-8)
  12. C175S. 20 applied (with modifications) (1.5.2025) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 (Application to Food Crime Officers) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/300), regs. 1(1), 2-6
  13. C176S. 20 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2026) by Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 (c. 28), ss. 7, 109(1), Sch. 1 (with ss. 72, 105); S.I. 2026/371, reg. 2(a)
  14. C177S. 20 applied (with modifications) (7.4.2026) by The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to Enforcement Officers) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/303), regs. 1(1), 3, 4(k), Sch. paras. 1-10