Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Activity definition

What does Activity mean? In radiation and environmental practice, activity has two related uses. 1) Scientific measure: the rate at which a radionuclide decays per unit time. It is defined in radiation protection legislation and standards, with the SI unit Becquerel (Bq). The Curie (Ci) may appear in legacy or supplier documentation. Activity (and activity concentration) determines whether exemption, clearance and authorisation thresholds are met, and underpins discharge limits and inventory caps across the UK and Ireland. 2) Regulated practice: a practice or operation involving radioactive material or radiation generators that may require prior regulatory authorisation. Depending on jurisdiction and risk, this may take the form...

UK criminal and regulatory dawn raids: practitioner FAQs on search warrants, privilege, seizures, digital searches and staff interviews

Published by a LexisNexis Risk & Compliance expert

Precedents

1 What is a dawn raid?

A dawn raid refers to an unannounced attendance by the police or investigators from another prosecuting authority to search premises where they suspect a business or individual has been involved in criminal conduct. Teams commonly arrive first thing in the morning (hence the term ‘dawn’), with the surprise element intended to secure, protect and preserve evidence. Methods are often robust and forceful, meaning the organisation must respond rapidly and appropriately to satisfy its obligations and minimise interference with the day‑to‑day operation of the business.

2 Where do the investigators come from?

In the UK, a range of authorities have powers to carry out dawn raids. These may include, but are not limited to:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
the police
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

3 What are the chances of a dawn raid happening here?

Any organisation, regardless of size or sector, could, in practice, be targeted by a dawn raid at any time, and no entity is exempt; therefore every business should remain vigilant and prepared for the possibility that such an inspection may occur...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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