Section 12. Power to search without warrant.

(1) Whenever 1 *** any member of the Force, not below the the prescribed rank, has reason to believe that any such offence as is referred to in section 11 has been or is being committed and that a search warrant cannot be obtained without affording the offender an opportunity of escaping or of concealing evidence of the offence, he may detain the offender and search his person and belongings forthwith and, if he thinks proper, arrest any person whom he has reason to believe to have committed the offence. (2) The provisions of the 2 [Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)] relating to searches under that Code shall, so far as may be, apply to searches under this section.