Terrorism (Emergency Powers) Act 2003
27Decontamination etc. of things
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27 Decontamination etc. of things (1) A police officer may detain and make arrangements for the disposal, destruction or decontamination of a thing seized in connection with a search under this Act, if he or she suspects on reasonable grounds that the thing: (a) is a risk to public health or public safety, including because it has become contaminated as a consequence of a terrorist act or preparation for a terrorist act or an imminent terrorist act; or (b) may significantly increase the risk to public health or public safety as a consequence of a terrorist act that has occurred or may significantly increase the risk to public health or public safety if an imminent terrorist act occurs. (2) A power given by this section to detain a thing includes: (a) a power to remove a thing from the place where it is found; and (b) a power to guard the thing in or on the place where it is found.