Guidance Hub
Search Warrants
A search is rarely the beginning. It usually means the investigation is already moving.
The execution of a search warrant is one of the most alarming moments a person can experience: at home or at a place of business, often early in the morning, and rarely with warning.
In the disorientation of the moment, decisions get made that matter enormously later: what is said, what is handed over, what is done with devices and documents. A search warrant is a signal that an investigation is already serious.
Craig MacKenzie advises clients during and immediately after a search, protecting their position when it is most exposed.
If this sounds like your situation
- The police have searched my home or business
- My devices and documents have been taken
- I don't know what they were looking for
- I said things during the search that I now regret
- I don't know what happens to what they seized
Speak to Craig at Forbes Solicitors before you respond to the police.
Make an Initial Enquiry →Personal professional website. Legal services are provided exclusively through Forbes Solicitors.
Where to start
Frequently asked questions
Can I refuse to let the police search?
If they hold a valid warrant, you cannot lawfully obstruct the search. But you can, and should, take advice immediately about how to conduct yourself while it happens.
Do I have to answer questions during a search?
A search is not an interview. You are not obliged to explain yourself on the spot, and doing so without advice is a common and costly mistake.
Will I get my devices back?
Seized items are examined and may be retained for some time. What happens next depends on the investigation, which is exactly why early strategic advice matters.
Related guidance
The wider picture
What else could this affect?
An investigation rarely stays in one place. These are the areas that, depending on the facts, may also need to be considered.
Your liberty
A criminal investigation can carry the risk of arrest, bail conditions or, ultimately, prosecution; the position should be assessed early.
Your devices and data
Digital devices and data are often central to investigations; how they are handled should be approached carefully and lawfully.
Your business
Where you run or own a business, an investigation can create commercial and operational questions that should be assessed early.
Your privacy
Protecting privacy, including who knows what and when, is often a central concern and can be planned from the outset.
Your reputation
An allegation, even one that is never charged, can create reputational exposure that benefits from a considered, strategic approach.
Before you act
The decision you may be facing next
People in your position often face one of these decisions before anything else. Each one is best made with advice, not under pressure.
Should I hand over my phone or devices?
Should I answer questions in interview?
Should I provide documents that have been requested?
If the police have contacted you, do not return the call alone. Contact Craig at Forbes Solicitors to make an initial enquiry.
Personal professional website. Legal services are provided exclusively through Forbes Solicitors.
Do You Require Advice About Your Circumstances?
This material provides general information and is not a substitute for advice about a specific investigation or case.
Craig provides legal services exclusively through Forbes Solicitors. To make an initial enquiry, contact Craig at:
craig.mackenzie@forbessolicitors.co.uk
An enquiry does not constitute an instruction. Forbes Solicitors must confirm in writing that it has accepted the matter before any solicitor–client relationship arises.