Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act 2000

3 Powers of entry, etc

(1) Where—

(a) the prosecutor has given notice to the court of his intention to apply for an order under section 2; and

(b) he is of the opinion that the animals need to be marked for identification purposes,

the prosecutor, or a person authorised by him, may enter the premises on which the animals are kept and mark them for those purposes.

(2) Where an order is made under section 2, the prosecutor, or a person authorised by him, may—

(a) enter the premises on which the animals are kept for the purpose of exercising the powers conferred by the order;

(b) mark the animals (whether by the application of an ear tag or by any other means); and

(c) in the case of an order making any provision mentioned in section 2(2)(a), make use for that purpose of any equipment on the premises.

(3) Any person who obstructs the prosecutor, or a person authorised by him, in the exercise of powers conferred by subsection (1) or (2) or an order under section 2 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(4) Nothing in this section authorises a person to enter a dwellinghouse.

(5) A person entering any premises in the exercise of powers conferred on him by this section must, if so required by the owner or occupier or person in charge of the premises—

(a) produce to him some duly authenticated document showing that he is, or is a person authorised by, the prosecutor; and

(b) state in writing his reasons for entering.