To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances the police may search home computers without warrants; whether she plans to extend the circumstances in which such searches may take place; what requirements there are on the police to render computers secure following such searches; and if she will make a statement. (248489)

[holding answer 19 January 2009]: If an officer is lawfully on any premises with consent or under a warrant or for the purposes of making an arrest, he can require information stored in any electronic form and accessible from the premises that could be used in evidence, to be provided in a form which he can take away or from which it can be readily produced. The issue of security is a matter for the person requested to provide the information.