Canadian Criminal Procedure and Practice/Search and Seizure/General Warrants

General Principles
Section 487(1) provides police with a general power to "use any device or investigative technique, or procedure" or otherwise do any thing described in the warrant which would constitute an unreasonable search or seizure.

The section states:

A warrant under this section requires:
 * 1) reasonable and probable grounds that,
 * 2) offence has been or will be committed or
 * 3) information concerning the offence will be obtained; and,
 * 4) it is in the best interests of the administration of justice; and,
 * 5) there is no other statutory authority permitting peace officers to do this search or seizure

Purpose of Search
A general warrant can only be used to seize tangible objects. This means that intangibles, such as money, are not applicable.

Such a warrant however cannot be used to search a person or seize anything on a person.

Finger prints cannot be taken with a 486 warrant.

A bullet found inside an accused person cannot be included.

Manner of Search
A 487 warrant may authorize an "covert" search.

Video surveillance
A warrant is only needed when video surveillance is set-up in such a way that it collects information for which there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. So a camera in a public place such as a street does not need a warrant, but a camera filming the inside of a dwelling would need one.

A video camera requires a warrant where filming:
 * a hotel room
 * a washroom stall

Lawyer's Office
When searching a lawyer's office, the police have a duty to minimize which requires:
 * 1) that a search not be authorized unless there is no other reasonable solution and,
 * 2) that the authorization be given in terms that, to the extent possible, limit the impairment of solicitor-client privilege