Miscellaneous and supplemental
23Power of entry.
(1)
Subject to the provisions of this section, [F1 a district council shall have] a right at all reasonable hours to enter any land which is used as a caravan site or in respect of which an application for a site licence has been made—
(a)
for the purpose of enabling the [F1 district council] to determine what conditions should be attached to a site licence or whether conditions attached to a site licence should be altered;
(b)
for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is, or has been, on or in connection with the land any contravention of the provisions of this Act;
(c)
for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not circumstances exist which would authorise the [F1 district council] to take any action, or execute any work, under this Act;
(d)
for the purpose of taking any action, or executing any work, authorised by this Act to be taken or executed by the [F1 district council];
so, however, that admission to any land shall not be demanded as of right under this section unless twenty-four hours notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier.
(2)
If it is shown to the satisfaction of a justice of the peace—
(a)
that admission to any land has been refused, or that refusal is apprehended, or that the occupier of the land is temporarily absent and the case is one of urgency, or that an application for admission would defeat the object of the entry; and
(b)
that there is reasonable ground for entering on the land for any such purpose as is mentioned in sub-section (1);
the justice may by warrant under his hand authorise the [F1 district council] …F2 to enter the land, if need be by force, but such a warrant shall not be issued unless the justice is satisfied that notice of the intention to apply for the warrant has been given to the occupier, or that the occupier is temporarily absent and the case is one of urgency, or that the giving of such notice would defeat the object of the entry.
(3)
(4)
Every warrant granted under this section shall continue in force until the purpose for which the entry is necessary has been satisfied.
(5)
A person who wilfully obstructs any [F1 district council] acting in the execution of this section, or of a warrant under this section, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds.
[F3 (6) A district council may arrange for the discharge of any of their functions under this section by any of their officers and arrangements made under this sub-section shall include provision for any officer of the district council, seeking to exercise any power of entry on any land in pursuance of the arrangements, to exhibit the authority if required to do so.]