7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) and regulation 9, where an accident occurs to which these Regulations apply—
(a)no person other than an authorised person shall have access to the aircraft involved, and
(b)neither the aircraft nor its contents shall, except under the authority of the Secretary of State for Transport or the Secretary of State for Defence, be removed or otherwise interfered with.
(2) Subject to the provisions of section 21(4), (4A) and (5) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(1)—
(a)the aircraft may be removed or interfered with so far as may be necessary for the purposes of saving human life or for the removal of any immediate hazard to human life;
(b)if the aircraft is wrecked on water, the aircraft or any of its contents may be removed to such extent as may be necessary for bringing it or them to a place of safety.
(3) In this regulation the expression “authorised person” means—
(a)any person authorised by the Secretary of State for Transport or the Secretary of State for Defence either generally or specially to have access to any military aircraft involved in an accident;
(b)any police officer;
(c)any officer of Customs and Excise.