Section 24: Power to enter a premises and search, remove or immobilise objects

24. Power to enter a premises and search, remove or immobilise objects.—(1) If the National Authority has reasonable cause to believe that- (a) an object is on a premises to which the public has access or which are occupied by a person who consents to action being taken under this sub-section; and (b) the object is a chemical weapon, the National Authority may authorise any person to enter the premises and to search them. (2) If a magistrate is satisfied on information on oath that there is reasonable cause to believe that an object is on premises and that it is a chemical weapon he may issue a warrant in writing authorising a person acting under the authority of the National Authority to enter the premises, if necessary, by force at any time within one month from the time of the issue of the warrant and to search them. (3) A person who acts under an authorisation given under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) may take with him such other persons and such equipment as appear to him to be necessary. (4) If a person enters premises under an authorisation given under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2), and the object is found then he may make the object safe and- (a) he may seize and remove it, if it is reasonably practicable to do so; or (b) he may, in any other case, affix a warning on the object or on something in conspicuous position near the object, stating that the object is not to be moved or interfered with before a date specified in the warning.

Effective date: 2000-01-01

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