Computer Misuse Act 1990 (c. 18) Document Generated: 2022-03-08 Changes to legislation: Computer Misuse Act 1990 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 08 March 2022. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. (See end of Document for details) View outstanding changes 17 he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises, using such reasonable force as is necessary. (2) The power conferred by subsection (1) above does not extend to authorising a search for material of the kinds mentioned in Article 11(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (privileged, excluded and special procedure material). (3) A warrant under this section— (a) may authorise persons to accompany any constable executing the warrant; and (b) remains in force for twenty-eight days from the date of its issue. (4) In exercising a warrant issued under this section a constable may seize an article if he reasonably believes that it is evidence that an offence under section 1 above has been or is about to be committed. (5) In this section “ premises ” includes land, buildings, movable structures, vehicles, vessels, aircraft and hovercraft. (6) This section extends only to Northern Ireland.] Textual Amendments F75 17 S. 16A inserted (1.10.2008) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 28 (with s. 38(2)); S.I. 2008/2503, art. 3(b) Interpretation. (1) The following provisions of this section apply for the interpretation of this Act. (2) A person secures access to any program or data held in a computer if by causing a computer to perform any function he— (a) alters or erases the program or data; (b) copies or moves it to any storage medium other than that in which it is held or to a different location in the storage medium in which it is held; (c) uses it; or (d) has it output from the computer in which it is held (whether by having it displayed or in any other manner); and references to access to a program or data (and to an intent to secure such access [F76or to enable such access to be secured]) shall be read accordingly. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(c) above a person uses a program if the function he causes the computer to perform— (a) causes the program to be executed; or (b) is itself a function of the program. (4) For the purposes of subsection (2)(d) above— (a) a program is output if the instructions of which it consists are output; and (b) the form in which any such instructions or any other data is output (and in particular whether or not it represents a form in which, in the case of instructions, they are capable of being executed or, in the case of data, it is capable of being processed by a computer) is immaterial.