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Section 28I: Seized material: access and copying.

Immigration Act 1971 · 1971 c. 77View on legislation.gov.uk

Part III: Criminal Proceedings

If a person showing himself—

to be the occupier of the premises on which seized material was seized, or
to have had custody or control of the material immediately before it was seized,

asks the immigration officer who seized the material for a record of what he seized, the officer must provide the record to that person within a reasonable time.

If a relevant person asks an immigration officer for permission to be granted access to seized material, the officer must arrange for him to have access to the material under the supervision—

in the case of seized material within subsection (8)(a), of an immigration officer;
in the case of seized material within subsection (8)(b), of a constable.

An immigration officer may photograph or copy, or have photographed or copied, seized material.

If a relevant person asks an immigration officer for a photograph or copy of seized material, the officer must arrange for—

that person to have access to the material for the purpose of photographing or copying it under the supervision—
in the case of seized material within subsection (8)(a), of an immigration officer;
in the case of seized material within subsection (8)(b), of a constable; or
the material to be photographed or copied.

A photograph or copy made under subsection (4)(b) must be supplied within a reasonable time.

There is no duty under this section to arrange for access to, or the supply of a photograph or copy of, any material if there are reasonable grounds for believing that to do so would prejudice—

the exercise of any functions in connection with which the material was seized; or
an investigation which is being conducted under this Act, or any criminal proceedings which may be brought as a result.

"Relevant person" means—

a person who had custody or control of seized material immediately before it was seized, or
someone acting on behalf of such a person.

"Seized material" means anything—

seized and retained by an immigration officer, or
seized by an immigration officer and retained by the police,

under this Part.

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.