Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

149.   Powers of police officers

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    (1)   Any police officer not below the rank of Inspector may—

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      (a)     subject to section 150, enter and search any premises or place; in which he or she reasonably suspects that there is an infringing copy of a work or an illicit recording or any article used or intended to be used for making infringing copies or illicit recordings; and

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      (b)     stop, board and search any vessel (other than a ship of war) or any aircraft (other than a military aircraft); in which he or she reasonably suspects that there is an infringing copy of a work or an illicit recording or any article used or intended to be used for making infringing copies or illicit recordings; or

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      (c)     stop and search any vehicle, in which he or she reasonably suspects that there is an infringing copy of a work or an illicit recording or any article used or intended to be used for making infringing copies or illicit recordings; and

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      (d)     seize, remove or detain—

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        (i)     any article which appears to him or her to be an infringing copy or an illicit recording or any article which appears to him or her to be intended for use for making such copies or recordings, and

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        (ii)     anything which appears to him or her to be or to contain, or to be likely to be or to contain, evidence of an offence under this Act.

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    (2)   Any police officer not below the rank of Inspector may—

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      (a)     break open any outer or inner door of any place which he or she is empowered or authorised by this Act to enter and search;

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      (b)     forcibly board any vessel, aircraft or vehicle which he or she is empowered by this Act to stop, board and search;

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      (c)     remove by force any person or thing obstructing him or her in the exercise of any power conferred on him or her by this Act;

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      (d)     detain any person found in any place which he or she is empowered or authorised by this Act to search until such place has been searched;

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      (e)     detain any vessel or aircraft which he or she is empowered by this Act to stop, board and search, and prevent any person from approaching or boarding such vessel or aircraft until it has been searched;

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      (f)     detain any vehicle which he or she is empowered by this Act to stop and search until it has been searched.