If your investigation gives you reasonable grounds to search a suspect's home, you can apply. Some premises don't need an application at all — read everything below before you write yours.
The premises where a serious crime occurred, and the victim's own home, can be searched immediately by attending officers — no warrant, arrest, or written grounds needed. Doesn't count against your search budget.
Authorised under s.17(1)(e), Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (entry to preserve evidence and prevent loss), and Ashfordshire Constabulary SOP 4/19 — Scene Preservation & Next-of-Kin Premises.
Just ask the Detective — there's nothing to fill in for this one.
Where a suspect has already been arrested for a serious offence, police don't need a magistrate's permission to search premises that person occupies or controls — a senior officer can authorise it directly. This kind of application doesn't count against your search budget.
Authorised under s.18, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (search of premises occupied or controlled by a person arrested for an indictable offence), on the written authority of an inspector.
Where a suspect hasn't been arrested, police need a magistrate's warrant. To get one, you need to show:
Vague suspicion isn't enough — you need to point to something specific you've actually found.
Authorised under s.8, Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (power of a justice of the peace to issue a warrant to search for evidence of an indictable offence).
Type your application directly into a PDF on your phone or laptop, instead of using the paper form below.
Download the fillable form (PDF)