Remedy
Start free

Section 127F: Search power: vehicles

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 · 2002 c. 29View on legislation.gov.uk

Part 3: Confiscation: Scotland

The powers specified in subsection (4) are exercisable if—

an appropriate officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a vehicle contains property that may be seized under section 127C, and
it appears to the officer that the vehicle is under the control of a person who is in or in the vicinity of the vehicle.

The powers are exercisable only if the vehicle is—

in any place to which, at the time of the proposed exercise of the powers, the public or any section of the public has access, on payment or otherwise, as of right or by virtue of express or implied permission, or
in any other place to which at that time people have ready access but which is not a dwelling.

But if the vehicle is in a garden or yard or other land occupied with and used for the purposes of a dwelling, the officer may exercise the powers under subsection (4) only if the officer has reasonable grounds for believing—

that the person does not reside in the dwelling, and
that the vehicle is not in the place in question with the express or implied permission of another who resides in the dwelling.

The officer may, so far as the officer thinks it necessary or expedient for the purpose of seizing the property under section 127C, require the person to—

permit entry to the vehicle,
permit a search of the vehicle.

An officer exercising a power under subsection (4) may detain the vehicle for so long as is necessary for its exercise.

A power conferred by this section may be exercised only with the appropriate approval under section 127G unless, in the circumstances, it is not practicable to obtain that approval before exercising the power.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.