Editing Search warrant (section)

==United Kingdom==
In [[England and Wales]], a local [[Magistrate#United Kingdom|magistrate]] issues search warrants, which require that a [[constable]] provide evidence that supports the warrant application.

Under Section 18(5)a of  [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]], a constable can conduct a search immediately without an inspector's authorisation. This subsection allows a constable to search the home of a suspect(s) under arrest in their presence before they take the suspect to a police station (or other custody location). Under Section 32 of [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]], a constable who arrests a person who is on their own property or has just left their premises, may immediately search both the suspect and the immediate area.

In [[Scotland]], a country operating on the distinct legal system of [[Scots law]] compared to England and Wales – the restrictions governing the use and execution of search warrants are set out under Part XIII under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. Search warrants must be signed by a [[Sheriff (Scotland)|Sheriff]] after a petition from police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/46/section/296|title=Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=National Archives}}</ref>

Gas company officials may enter a home to inspect, repair, or replace [[gas meter]]s by obtaining a warrant.<ref>{{cite news|author=Farin|title=Breaking and metering|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2010/04/breaking_and_metering.html|access-date=27 October 2012|newspaper=BBC Watchdog|date=29 April 2010|quote=British Gas are legally entitled to enter anyone's home if the householder hasn't paid the bill and won't let them in, but they need a warrant from a magistrate, who must be satisfied the information British Gas shows them is correct. In most cases, British Gas also must have issued a prior warning.}}</ref>{{dl|date=December 2024}}