sec.599Coroner’s search warrant

### sec.599 Coroner’s search warrant A coroner may, on the coroner’s own initiative, issue a search warrant for a place if the coroner reasonably suspects that there is evidence at the place that may be relevant to the coroner’s investigation. The search warrant must state— that a police officer may exercise the powers mentioned in subsection (4) at the place; and brief particulars that identify the death that the coroner is investigating; and the evidence that may be seized under the warrant; and if the warrant is to be executed at night, the hours when the place may be entered; and the day and time the search warrant ends, being no more than 7 days after the search warrant is issued. The ways that a coroner may send the search warrant to a police officer include by fax or electronic communication. Under the search warrant, a police officer has— the powers described in section 157 (1) (a) to (e) and (g) ; and power to seize a thing found at the place, or on a person found at the place, that the police officer reasonably suspects may be relevant to the coroner’s investigation; and a suicide note power to inspect, measure, photograph or film the place or anything at the place; and power to take a thing, or a sample of a thing, from the place for testing; and power to copy a document at the place; and power to require a person at the place to give the police officer reasonable help to exercise the powers mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) . A police officer must comply with section 158 when executing the search warrant. A police officer must not exercise a power under subsection (4) (c) to (f) unless the police officer reasonably suspects that the exercise of the power is necessary for the coroner’s investigation. s 599 ins 2003 No. 13 s 106 sch 1 amd 2022 No. 4 s 10 ; 2024 No. 24 s 57 sch 1 pt 2 (sec.599-ssec.1) A coroner may, on the coroner’s own initiative, issue a search warrant for a place if the coroner reasonably suspects that there is evidence at the place that may be relevant to the coroner’s investigation. (sec.599-ssec.2) The search warrant must state— that a police officer may exercise the powers mentioned in subsection (4) at the place; and brief particulars that identify the death that the coroner is investigating; and the evidence that may be seized under the warrant; and if the warrant is to be executed at night, the hours when the place may be entered; and the day and time the search warrant ends, being no more than 7 days after the search warrant is issued. (sec.599-ssec.3) The ways that a coroner may send the search warrant to a police officer include by fax or electronic communication. (sec.599-ssec.4) Under the search warrant, a police officer has— the powers described in section 157 (1) (a) to (e) and (g) ; and power to seize a thing found at the place, or on a person found at the place, that the police officer reasonably suspects may be relevant to the coroner’s investigation; and a suicide note power to inspect, measure, photograph or film the place or anything at the place; and power to take a thing, or a sample of a thing, from the place for testing; and power to copy a document at the place; and power to require a person at the place to give the police officer reasonable help to exercise the powers mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) . (sec.599-ssec.5) A police officer must comply with section 158 when executing the search warrant. (sec.599-ssec.6) A police officer must not exercise a power under subsection (4) (c) to (f) unless the police officer reasonably suspects that the exercise of the power is necessary for the coroner’s investigation. - (a) that a police officer may exercise the powers mentioned in subsection (4) at the place; and - (b) brief particulars that identify the death that the coroner is investigating; and - (c) the evidence that may be seized under the warrant; and - (d) if the warrant is to be executed at night, the hours when the place may be entered; and - (e) the day and time the search warrant ends, being no more than 7 days after the search warrant is issued. - (a) the powers described in section 157 (1) (a) to (e) and (g) ; and - (b) power to seize a thing found at the place, or on a person found at the place, that the police officer reasonably suspects may be relevant to the coroner’s investigation; and Example of paragraph (b) — a suicide note - (c) power to inspect, measure, photograph or film the place or anything at the place; and - (d) power to take a thing, or a sample of a thing, from the place for testing; and - (e) power to copy a document at the place; and - (f) power to require a person at the place to give the police officer reasonable help to exercise the powers mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) .