Laws granting Police power to enter and search premises without a warrant come into effect next week.

Attorney General Kim Wilson announced today that portions of the new Police and Criminal Evidence Amendment (PACE) Act 2009 will be implemented on Monday.

The new legislation does away with the need for search warrants in cases where officers are seeking a person suspected of committing an arrestable offence, pursuing a person unlawfully at large, or trying to apprehend a person wanted in connection with a court warrant issued for an arrestable offence.

According to Senator Wilson, the laws aim to provide clear and concise procedural instructions and a new range of powers to Police as to how and when they can lawfully enter private premises.

“This includes powers to search for evidence and or persons suspected of having committed a crime. It also includes powers to seize, retain and copy evidence found to assist in the investigation of offences,” she stated.

Copies of the Act can be found on Bermudalaws.bm.

For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.