Parliament has passed amendments to the Magistrate's Court Act that significantly broaden the circumstances under which law enforcement officers may obtain and execute search warrants across Antigua and Barbuda.
According to Antigua News Room, the Magistrate's Court (Amendment) Bill 2026 was approved during Tuesday's sitting of the House of Representatives, with lawmakers arguing that existing legislation had become outdated and was limiting the ability of police to investigate criminal activity effectively.
Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin, who piloted the bill, said the amendments were intended to modernize investigative procedures and provide law enforcement agencies with greater flexibility when pursuing evidence.
Under the revised law, search warrants may now be issued in relation to any offence, removing restrictions that previously confined their use to specified categories of crimes.
The amendments also authorize the execution of search warrants on Sundays — a change government lawmakers argued was necessary to prevent suspects from exploiting weekends to evade investigations or dispose of evidence.
Another key provision allows investigators to seize evidence discovered during the execution of a warrant, even if that material was not specifically identified in the original application, provided it relates to the commission of an offence.
Government members maintained that the reforms would strengthen the capacity of police and prosecutors to investigate criminal activity and improve the overall efficiency of criminal proceedings. Supporters argued during debate that criminals increasingly exploit procedural gaps and that law enforcement requires modern tools to respond to evolving criminal activity.
Opposition members broadly supported the legislation but raised concerns about ensuring that the expanded search powers remain subject to appropriate judicial oversight and constitutional safeguards.
Benjamin maintained that the amendments preserve the requirement for judicial authorization and do not diminish the role of magistrates in determining whether a warrant should be issued.
The bill formed part of a broader legislative agenda considered during the same parliamentary session, which also included the Fatal Accidents Bill, the Electronic Crimes Amendment Bill, and the Immigration and Passport Amendment Bill.
The amendments are expected to take effect following assent and publication, granting police and other authorized law enforcement agencies expanded powers to obtain and execute search warrants throughout the country.
