Under Section 17 PACE Entry, before entering premises to search for a person (apart from saving life and limb), what must an officer have?

Under Section 17 PACE Entry, before entering premises to search for a person (apart from saving life and limb), what must an officer have?

• A. Reasonable grounds to believe the person sought is on the premises
• B. Written warrant
• C. The occupant's consent
• D. The premises must be vacant

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that under Section 17 PACE, a police officer may enter premises to search for a person without a warrant as long as they have reasonable grounds for believing that the person is on the premises. This belief is the threshold that justifies entry when the purpose is to locate or arrest that person (saving life and limb is the notable exception to the rule). A written warrant isn’t required for this scenario, and the occupant’s consent or the premises being vacant aren’t prerequisites. So the essential requirement is having reasonable grounds to believe the person sought is on the premises.

The key idea is that under Section 17 PACE, a police officer may enter premises to search for a person without a warrant as long as they have reasonable grounds for believing that the person is on the premises. This belief is the threshold that justifies entry when the purpose is to locate or arrest that person (saving life and limb is the notable exception to the rule). A written warrant isn’t required for this scenario, and the occupant’s consent or the premises being vacant aren’t prerequisites. So the essential requirement is having reasonable grounds to believe the person sought is on the premises.