10Access to premises

10 Access to premises

(1) A police officer may, with the consent of the occupier of any premises, enter the premises for the purpose of searching for prohibited animals and prohibited goods. (2) Where a police officer has reason to believe that there is on any premises a prohibited animal or that there are on any premises any prohibited goods, the police officer may make application to a Magistrate for a warrant authorizing the police officer to enter the premises for the purpose of searching for prohibited animals and prohibited goods. (3) If, on an application under subsection (2), the Magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath: (a) that there is reasonable ground for believing that there is on the premises to which the application relates any prohibited animal or there are on those premises any prohibited goods; and (b) that the issue of a warrant is reasonably required for the purposes of this Ordinance, the Magistrate may grant a warrant substantially in accordance with the form set out in Schedule 2 authorizing the police officer, with such assistance as he thinks necessary, to enter the premises, during such hours of the day or night as the warrant specifies or, if the warrant so specifies, at any time, if necessary by force, for the purpose of searching for prohibited animals and prohibited goods. (4) Where a police officer has entered any premises in pursuance of a warrant granted under subsection (3), he may search those premises for prohibited animals and prohibited goods. (5) A person is guilty of an offence if: (a) the person engages in conduct; and (b) the conduct causes a police officer to be hindered or obstructed; and (i) the police officer has entered premises after being given consent to do so under subsection (1); or (ii) the police officer has entered premises under the authority of a warrant granted under subsection (3).

Maximum Penalty: 20 penalty units.

(6) In this section, occupier, in relation to premises, includes the person in charge of the premises.