When does computer data become computer evidence?

It certainly gives me pause about carrying a system to the UK…/quote]

U.S. too!

http//www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/world/americas/07iht-legal.4.9058832.html?_r=1

"… The search was not unusual The government contends that it is perfectly free to inspect every laptop that enters the country, whether or not there is anything suspicious about the computer or its owner. …"

Hi

From UK perspective Local Authority law enforcement officers can visit a business premise (during normal opening hours) and carry out an inspection for compliance with a variety of Trading Standards laws without a need to produce a entry warrant or having any suspicion that an offence was being committed.

This right of entry & inspection exceeds the powers of the Police

This would allow examination of goods which were controlled by specific legislation or counterfeit goods and business documents.

I do not think this would allow examining the hard disk contents of a PC. Though you might then see on the PC's screen what appeared to be evidence of a criminal offence.
eg a program for creating labels for counterfeit goods and the fake labels coming out of a printer. Which may give you the right to seize the PC & printer as evidence

If we want to go beyond our powers of inspection we would have to give the occupier a written form explaining our powers and get their written permission to proceed, otherwise any evidence found may not be able to be used

If we expected a serious offence or the building was a domestic dwelling house we would get entry warrant and arrange for the police to accompany us.

We can not get an entry warrant for a domestic dwelling house unless we had evidence of business activity from the house.

The powers extend to requiring Business to give information which would help our investigation into the criminal activities of some one else.

regards
Mike Barnes

Thank you, Mike. I very much appreciate the insight. I enjoy learning about the laws and methods employed outside of the U.S.