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Powers of Entry

Volume 506: debated on Wednesday 24 February 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to his Department's document entitled Guidance on Powers of Entry—Scrutiny by the Home Department, how many requests for new powers of entry from organisations other than the police have been (a) approved and (b) refused by his Department since October 2007. (312858)

Applications are submitted to the Home Department in accordance with guidance issued to Government Departments on entry powers:

http://www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/GuidanceonPowersofEntry.html

The function of referral to the Home Office is to assist Departments in complying with that guidance rather than refusing applications. The following statutory provisions have been subject to referral to my Department since October 2007.

Current Bills before Parliament

Statute

Department responsible

Number of powers

1

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill

BIS

2

cl. 12 Power to enter premises and search for prohibited munitions

cl. 21 Power to search and obtain evidence: issue of warrant

2

Flood and Water Management Bill

DEFRA

1

Sch.1 para. 13 Powers of entry without warrant.

3

Sunbeds (Regulation) Bill 2009-10

DOH

1

cl. 7 Enforcement by local Authorities

Secondary legislation

Year

Statute

Department responsible

Number of powers

1

2000

Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (as amended by Political Parties and Elections Act 2009)

MOJ

1

Schedule 19B Investigatory powers of Electoral Commission—Para. 2: Issue by JP of Inspection warrants authorising EC staff to enter premises

2

2006

Childcare Act 2006 (as amend by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009) Part 3A Inspection of Children Centres.

DCSF

2

s.98D: Inspection of Children Centres powers of entry without warrant.

s.98F: Power of constable to assist in exercise of power of entry under a warrant.

3

2008

Regulatory and Enforcement Sanctions Act 2008

BIS (BERR)

Part 3 s.55 Power to make Order conferring/extending powers of entry, search seizure.

4

2008

Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Repeals and replaces powers of entry etc. under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003)

DOH

1

s.62-65: Powers of person authorised by Care Quality Commission to enter and inspect regulated premises.

5

2008

Pensions Act 2008

DWP

s.61 amends 2004 Act

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/pdf/ukpga_20080030_en.pdf

6

2009

Banking Act 2009—Enforcement of inter-bank payment system

HMT

1

s.194: JP may issue warrant to authorised BoE inspector appointed under s.193 or constable to enter and search premises/part of premises where inter-bank payment system is managed or operated.

7

2009

Coroners and Justice Act 2009–Powers for Coroners to investigate deaths

MOJ

1

Schedule 5: para. 3 Chief Coroner may authorise senior coroner to enter and search land

8

2009

Data Protection Act 1998 (as amended by Coroners and Justice Act 2009, Sch. 20 Part 6)

MOJ

1

Schedule 9 (Powers of Entry and Inspection): Para. 1(1A)/(1B): Allows circuit judge or District Judge to grant warrant to authorise DP Commissioner to enter and search premises specified in an assessment notice to determine whether data controller is complying with DP principles.

9

2009

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Part 8, Chapter 2 Common enforcement powers

DEFRA

4

s.246: Power of enforcement officer to board and inspect vessels and marine installations

s.247: Power of enforcement officer to enter and inspect premises for purposes of exercising functions.

s.248: Power of enforcement officer to enter and inspect vehicles purposes of exercising functions.

s.249/Schedule 17: Provides for issue of warrant to authorise enforcement officer to enter a dwelling. (Believed these provisions may replace one or more powers in marine/fishery protection/regulation type legislation) DEFRA

Secondary legislation

No.

Year

SI No.

Authority

Title

Department

No. of powers

1.

2008

2347

European Communities Act 1972

Sea Fishing (Recovery Measures) Order 2008 [2008/2347]

DEFRA

3

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082347_en_1

Reg. 13 Powers of British sea-fishery officers in relation to fishing boats

Reg. 14 Powers of British sea-fishery officers on land

Reg. 15 Warrant to enter premises

2.

2008

2795

European Communities Act 1972

Cat and Dog Fur (Control of Import, Export and Placing on the Market) Regulations 2008 [2008/2795]

BIS

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20082795_en_1

Reg. 3: Powers of investigation and enforcement.

3.

2009

1899

European Communities Act 1972

Motor Vehicles (Replacement Catalytic Converters and Pollution Control Devices) Regulations 2009 [2009/1899] Reg. 9(2) and Schedule Para. 5: Powers of search etc.

DFT

2

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20091899_en_1

(2): Power of authorised enforcement officer to enter premises without warrant—not dwellings

(5): JP may issue warrant authorising authorised enforcement officer to enter premises

4.

2009

261

European Communities Act 1972

Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2009 [2009/261] (Revoke and remake with amendments the Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations 2008/41)

DEFRA

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090261_en_1

Reg. 46: Powers of authorised persons to enforce regulations.

5.

2009

2048

European Communities Act 1972

Port Security Regulations 2009 [2009/2048]

DFT

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/pdf/uksi_20092048_en.pdf

Reg. 25: Powers of a constable, port security officers and others to enter and search controlled buildings in designated ports.

6.

2009

463

European Communities Act 1972

Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 [2009/463]

DEFRA

2

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090463_en_5

Reg. 32(2): Entry and inspection of land and premises w/o warrant.

Reg. 32(3): Warrant to enter dwelling

7.

2009

360

European Communities Act 1972

European Fisheries Fund (Grants) (Wales) Regulations 2009 [2009/360]

NAFW

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/wales/wsi2009/wsi_20090360_en_1

Reg. 12: Powers of authorised officers.

8.

2009

842

European Communities Act 1972

Organic Products Regulations [2009/842] (revoke and replace Organic Products Regulations 2004 (SI 2004/1604)

DEFRA

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090842_en_4#pt5-l1g26

Reg. 23: Powers of entry—authorised officers

Reg. 24: Powers after entry

9.

2009

209

European Communities Act 1972

Payment Services Regulations 2009 [2009/209]

HMT

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090209_en_8

Reg. 83: Entry, inspection without a warrant etc—FSA officer

10.

2009

717

European Communities Act 1972

Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2009 [2009/717]

DFT

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090717_en_7#pt6-pb1-l1g34

Reg. 34: Powers of entry—authorised person

11.

2009

216

European Communities Act 1972

Ozone-Depleting Substances (Qualifications) Regulations 2009 [2009/216] (revoke and replace, with amendments, Ozone Depleting Substances (Qualifications) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/1510)

DEFRA

1

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20090216_en_1

Reg. 8: Powers of an authorised person

12.

2009

2194

European Communities Act 1972

Motor Vehicles (Refilling of Air Conditioning Systems by Service Providers) Regulations [2009/2194] Reg. 8: Powers of search etc.

DFT

2

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20092194_en_1

(2): Power of authorised enforcement officer to enter premises without warrant –not dwellings

(4): JP may issue warrant authorising authorised enforcement officer to enter premises

13.

2009

1361

European Communities Act 1972

Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations 2009 [2009/1361]

DEFRA

2

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/uksi_20091361_en_1

Reg. 7(1) Power of authorised officer to enter without warrant to enforce Regs.

Reg. 7(4): Entry on warrant

14.

2009

1551

European Communities Act 1972

Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce (Wales) Regulations 2009 [2009/1551] W151

NAFW

2

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/wales/wsi2009/wsi_20091551_en_1

Reg. 7(1) Power of authorised officer to enter without warrant to enforce Regs.

Reg. 7(4): Entry on warrant

15.

2008

3252

European Communities Act 1972

Beef and Veal Labelling Regulations 2008 [2008/3252]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20083252_en.pdf

Reg. 6(1) Entry to inspect w/o warrant

DEFRA

2

Reg. 6(3) Entry on warrant

Revokes Beef Labelling (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2000 [2000/3047]

16.

2009

1850

European Communities Act 1972

DEFRA

3

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/pdf/uksi_20091850_en.pdf

Sea Fishing (Landing and Weighing of Herring, Mackerel and Horse Mackerel) Order 2009 [2009/1850]

Reg. 11 Powers of British sea-fishery officers in relation to fishing boats

Reg. 12 Powers of British sea-fishery officers on land

Reg. 13 Warrant to enter premises

17.

2010

Await

European Communities Act 1972

(Proposed) Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) Regulations 2009

DEFRA

18.

2010

Await

European Communities Act 1972

(Proposed) Red Meat Industry (Wales) Measure

NAFW