The Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999

Supplementary provisions as to powers of entry and inspection

26.—(1) A person authorised under Article 25 to enter any premises shall, if so required, produce evidence of his authority before so entering.

(2) A person so authorised may take with him onto the premises in question such other persons, and such equipment, as may be necessary.

(3) Admission to any land used for residential purposes, and admission with heavy equipment to any other land, shall not except in an emergency be demanded under Article 25 unless 7 days' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.

(4) Any person who, in the exercise of his powers under Article 25, enters any premises which are unoccupied or premises of which the occupier is temporarily absent, shall leave the premises as effectually secured against trespassers as he found them.

(5) Any person who intentionally obstructs a person acting in the exercise of his powers under Article 25 shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(6) If any person assaults a person acting in the exercise of his powers under Article 25 he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

(7) Where in the exercise of any power conferred by Article 25 any damage is caused to premises or to chattels, any person interested in the premises or chattels shall be entitled to compensation in respect of the damage from the Department; and where in consequence of the exercise of any such power any person is disturbed in his enjoyment of any premises or chattels, he shall be entitled to compensation in respect of the disturbance from the Department.

(8) Any dispute as to a person’s entitlement to compensation under paragraph (7) or the amount of it shall be determined by the Lands Tribunal.

(9) If any person who, under Article 25, is admitted into a factory, workshop or workplace discloses to any person any information obtained by him therein with regard to any manufacturing process or trade secret he shall, unless the disclosure is made in the performance of his duty, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or both.