The Measuring Instruments (Gas Meters) Regulations 2006

Powers of entry and inspection

18.—(1) Subject to the production if so requested of his credentials, an enforcement officer may for the purpose of these Regulations, at all reasonable times—

(a) inspect and test, or remove for testing, any relevant instrument which has not been put into use in such manner as he considers appropriate;

(b) inspect and take copies of any document relating to such a relevant instrument; and

(c) enter any premises at which he has reasonable cause to believe there to be such a relevant instrument, not being premises used only as a private dwelling house.

(2) Subject to the production if so requested of his credentials, an enforcement officer may, at any time, seize and detain—

(a) a relevant instrument which he has reasonable cause to believe is liable to be forfeited under these Regulations; and

(b) any document or goods which he has reason to believe may be required as evidence in proceedings for an offence under these Regulations.

(3) If a justice of the peace, on written information on oath—

(a) is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to believe that any such relevant instrument or document as is mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) is on any premises, or that an offence under these Regulations has been, is being or is about to be committed on any premises; and

(b) is also satisfied either that—

(i) admission to the premises has been or is likely to be refused and that notice of intention to apply for a warrant has been given to the occupier; or

(ii) an application for admission, or the giving of such a notice would defeat the object of the entry, or that the case is one of urgency, or that the premises are unoccupied or the occupier is temporarily absent,

the justice may by warrant under his hand, which shall continue in force for a period of one month, authorise the enforcement officer to enter the premises, if need be by force.

(4) In the application of paragraph (3) to Scotland, “justice of the peace” includes a sheriff and references to written information on oath shall be construed as references to evidence on oath.

(5) An enforcement officer entering any premises by virtue of this regulation may take such other persons and such equipment as may appear to him necessary, and on leaving such premises which he has entered by virtue of a warrant under paragraph (3), being premises which are unoccupied or the occupier of which is temporarily absent, he shall leave them as effectively secured against a trespasser as he found them.

(6) If an enforcement officer or other person who enters any work-place by virtue of this regulation discloses to any person any information obtained by him in the work-place with regard to any secret manufacturing process or trade secret, he shall, unless the disclosure was made in the performance of his duty, be guilty of an offence.

(7) It shall not be an offence under paragraph (6) for a person to disclose information in circumstances where—

(a) the person from whom the information was received has consented to its disclosure; or

(b) the information is disclosed more than 50 years after it was received.

(8) Nothing in this regulation shall authorise any person to stop any vehicle on a highway.

(9) In this regulation, “credentials” means evidence of appointment or designation as an enforcement officer.