s 27 Authority to enter upon land
27.—(1) The competent authority may, with such assistants and workmen as are necessary, at any reasonable time, enter any land for the purpose of —(a) ascertaining whether there is, or has been, a contravention of this Act; (b) ascertaining whether any of the functions conferred by this Act on the competent authority or the Minister should or may be exercised; or (c) taking any action or carrying out any work authorised or required by or under this Act.[17/2005] (2) If entry to any land for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) cannot be obtained, the competent authority may —(a) where the competent authority has reasonable cause to believe that evidence of a contravention of this Act can be found on the land; (b) after declaring his or her office and producing his or her identification card where a demand is made for him or her to do so; (c) with such force as is necessary to obtain entry; and (d) with such assistants and workmen as are necessary, break open any outer or inner door or window on the land, forcibly enter the land and every part of the land, or remove by force any obstruction to such entry. [7/2017] (3) The competent authority may take photographs, or audio or video recordings of the land and any property or material found thereon and such other steps as the competent authority may consider necessary without involving any search or seizure of any premises, thing or person.[7/2017] (4) The occupier of any premises must, if required by the competent authority —(a) give his or her name and address; (b) provide proof of his or her identity; and (c) give the name and address of the owner of the premises, if known. (5) Any person who wilfully obstructs the competent authority in the performance of any matter or thing which the competent authority is authorised to do by this section or fails to comply with the requirement under subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. (6) A police officer may arrest without warrant any person who has committed or whom the police officer reasonably suspects to have committed an offence under subsection (5) if —(a) the person declines to give his or her name and address; or (b) there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the name and address, if given. (7) A person arrested under this section may be detained until his or her name and address are correctly ascertained except that no person so arrested may be detained longer than is permitted by written law and is necessary for bringing the person before a court unless the order of a court for the person’s detention is obtained.