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Powers of authorised officers.
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16.—(1) In this section “authorised officer” means—
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(a) a whole-time officer of the Minister authorised in writing by the Minister, or
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(b) a whole-time officer of the council of a county or corporation of a county or other borough authorised in writing by the council or corporation in relation to its functional area,
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to exercise, for the purpose of the Acts and this Act, the powers conferred by this section.
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(2) The authorisation of an authorised officer shall indicate the matters in respect of which he may act under this section.
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(3) An authorised officer may, for the purpose of obtaining any information which may be required in order to enable the Minister or the Director or the council of a county or the corporation of a county or other borough, as the case may be, to exercise his or its functions under the Acts or this Act, on production of the officer's authorisation, if so required—
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(a) at all reasonable times enter premises at which any trade or business or any activity in connection with a trade or business is carried on and inspect the premises and any goods on the premises and, on paying or making tender of payment therefor, take any of the goods,
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(b) require any person who carries on such trade, business or activity and any person employed in connection therewith to produce to the officer any books, documents or records relating to such trade, business or activity which are in that person's power or control and to give him such information as he may reasonably require in regard to any entries in such books, documents and records,
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(c) inspect and copy or take extracts from such books, documents and records,
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(d) require any such person to give to the officer any information the officer may require in regard to the persons carrying on such trade, business or activity (including, in particular, in the case of an unincorporated body of persons, information in regard to the membership thereof and of its committee of management or other controlling authority) or employed in connection therewith,
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(e) require any such person to give to the officer any other information which the officer may reasonably require in regard to such activity.
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(4) A person who obstructs or impedes an authorised officer in the exercise of a power, or does not comply with a requirement, under this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.
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