Question On Warrant Issue

[Askinquestion897]

If the police suspect someone is selling drugs at a business can they get a warrant for that persons house ??

[murraymints]

I would imagine so.they only need reasonable reason to suspect

[barry1010]

Yes

[bednobs]

i would hope so. If you suspect someone of a crime, it's a bit of a nonsense that you could onlt search the place you believe the crime was carried out

[William51]

Yes, they can.

[New Judge]

For a Magistrate to issue a search warrant the police must supply reasons for their requiring it. They cannot simply go "fishing." They have to suspect that an indictable offence has been committed and that evidence may exist on the premises which will assist in the prosecution of that offence. They have to convince the Magistrate that without the warrant the search would not be possible, why it is necessary, what they are looking for and why they suspect it is there (this last requirement may need them to produce evidence of their information and the reliability of that evidence). The request must have been authorised by an office of inspector rank or above officer requesting the warrant will have to provide all this information under oath.

A search warrant is a powerful tool and a considerable encroachment on the occupiers privacy. They are not issued lightly.

[Peter Pedant]

as Cliff, and Ld Bramhall found out.

Yes they can but hardly ever do. - a lot of us have difficulty in interesting the police at all about drugs. They MAY - but who knows? - watch the place.
to find out more.

The question is really - how do I get the police to act over drugs
short answer is - - you dont

[New Judge]

//....as Cliff, and Ld Bramhall found out.//

The police who secured the warrants in those two cases based their applications on evidence they said was "credible and true". And it was neither.

[Peter Pedant]

and then nothing happened?
the magistrate just said oops
do better next time

[New Judge]

Magistrates do not have the powers to investigate criminal offences, Peter. Unfortunately it's the police who have that job and even more unfortunately it was they who misled the Magistrates by basing a warrant application on unreliable information, which they branded "credible and true".

[CoolBritannia]

Also, if a person is arrested for an indictable offence (would include supply of drugs offence/s) police may enter and search any premises occupied or controlled by that person.

Section 18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/60/section/18