The Newspaper Society is appealing for comments on current police practice after the Home Office announced a wide-ranging review of police powers.

The procedures required to search and seize journalistic material will come under the spotlight as part of the review, and the NS has said it will be submitting a response to the consultation on this aspect.

The Home Office says it will be looking at numerous areas of police work as it reviews the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

The Act works as a legal rule book for police forces, listing the circumstances under which people can be arrested and the rules for detaining, interviewing and identifying suspects.

It also lists the legal safeguards that protect the public from unlawful arrest or detention.

But the Home Office says the Act has become "complex and bureaucratic" and the review will help ensure police powers balance public freedom with public safety.

In its consultation paper, one of the suggested areas for consideration is whether the special provisions to access under sections 9-14 of the Act "require updating to meet 21st century challenges in tackling crime".

These sections of the Act include the provisions setting out the "special procedure" which must be followed before police can obtain a court order for seizure of "journalistic material".

It also includes the particular protection for journalistic material held in confidence.

The Newspaper Society is now looking for comments and experiences from journalists before it submits its response to the consultation.

They are asked to contact Sue Oake, of the Political, Editorial and Regulatory Affairs Committee, on 020 7632 7463 or sue_oake@newspapersoc.org.uk.

The Home Office consultation will remain open until May 31.

The responses will then be considered as part of the Government's further discussions on the issue and new PACE codes will be issued in 2008.