Hi tkotiau,
First, was the police search and seizure of property valid? See "police search and seize powers".
Second, if it was, the police are generally allowed to look through the hard drive in relation to that specific offence, as well as any other offences they have reasonable grounds of suspecting you to be involved in. Again, they may need a warrant to search for suspected offences.
However, police may have wider powers depending on what offence they suspect you of. For example, money laundering officers have far-ranging search and seizure powers.
If police believe they have enough evidence to charge you and wish to do so, they can press charges.
If you are concerned about police having access to your whole hard drive, it is best to speak with a lawyer and get them to comb through every step of police conduct and see if there were any police irregularities present.
First, was the police search and seizure of property valid? See "police search and seize powers".
Second, if it was, the police are generally allowed to look through the hard drive in relation to that specific offence, as well as any other offences they have reasonable grounds of suspecting you to be involved in. Again, they may need a warrant to search for suspected offences.
However, police may have wider powers depending on what offence they suspect you of. For example, money laundering officers have far-ranging search and seizure powers.
If police believe they have enough evidence to charge you and wish to do so, they can press charges.
If you are concerned about police having access to your whole hard drive, it is best to speak with a lawyer and get them to comb through every step of police conduct and see if there were any police irregularities present.
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