32Use of electronic equipment at premises

32 Use of electronic equipment at premises

(1) The executing officer or a person assisting that officer may operate electronic equipment on the warrant premises to see whether evidential material is accessible by doing so if the officer or person assisting believes on reasonable grounds that the operation of the equipment can be carried out without damage to the equipment. (2) If the executing officer or a person assisting that officer, after operating the equipment, finds that evidential material is accessible by doing so, the officer or person assisting may: (a) seize the equipment and any disk, tape or other associated device; or (b) if the material can, by using facilities on the premises, be put in documentary form—operate the facilities to put the material in that form and seize the documents so produced; or (c) if the material can be transferred to a disk, tape or other storage device that: (i) is brought to the warrant premises; or (ii) is on the warrant premises and the use of which for the purpose has been agreed to in writing by the occupier of the premises; operate the equipment or other facilities to copy the material to the storage device and take the storage device from the premises. (3) A person may seize equipment under paragraph (2)(a) only if: (a) it is not practicable to put the material in documentary form as mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or to copy the material as mentioned in paragraph (2)(c); or (b) possession of the equipment by the occupier could constitute an offence against this Act. (4) If the executing officer or a person assisting that officer believes on reasonable grounds that: (a) evidential material may be accessible by operating electronic equipment on the warrant premises; and (b) expert assistance is required to operate the equipment; and (c) if he or she does not take action under this subsection, the material may be destroyed, altered or otherwise interfered with; he or she may do whatever is necessary to secure the equipment, whether by locking it up, placing a guard or otherwise. (5) The executing officer or a person assisting that officer must give notice to the occupier of the premises of his or her intention to seize equipment and of the fact that the equipment may be secured for up to 24 hours. (6) The equipment may be secured: (a) for a period not exceeding 24 hours; or (b) until the equipment has been operated by the expert; whichever happens first. (7) If the executing officer or a person assisting that officer believes on reasonable grounds that the expert assistance will not be available within 24 hours, he or she may apply to a magistrate for an order for an extension of that period. (8) The executing officer or a person assisting that officer must give notice to the occupier of the premises of his or her intention to apply for an extension, and the occupier is entitled to be heard in relation to the application. (9) The provision of this Part relating to the issue of warrants apply, with such modifications as are necessary to the issue of an extension.