xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"

[F1Part IVE+W+S General

48 Powers of entry and enforcement.E+W+S

(1)An officer of the [F2appropriate enforcement authority] or any other person authorised by [F3the appropriate enforcement authority] in that behalf may (on production, if so required, of his authority) enter on and survey any land for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is suitable for afforestation or for the purpose of inspecting any timber thereon, or for any other purpose in connection with the exercise of the powers and performance of the duties of the [F2appropriate enforcement authority] under this Act or the M1Plant Health Act 1967.

[F4(1A)In subsection (1) “the appropriate enforcement authority” means—

(a)in relation to powers and duties of the Commissioners, the Commissioners;

(b)in relation to powers and duties of the Welsh Ministers, the Welsh Ministers;

(c)in relation to powers and duties of the Natural Resources Body for Wales, the Natural Resources Body for Wales.]

(2)The [F5appropriate forestry authority] may authorise an officer or servant appointed or employed by them to exercise and perform on their behalf such powers and duties as they may consider necessary for the enforcement of byelaws under section 46 of this Act, and in particular to remove or exclude, after due warning, from any land to which the byelaws relate a person who commits, or whom he reasonably suspects of committing an offence against the said section or against the M2Vagrancy Act 1824.

(3)Anyone who obstructs an officer or servant appointed or employed by the [F6appropriate forestry authority] in the due exercise or performance of his powers or duties under the foregoing subsection shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F7level 3 on the standard scale].]