Demolition of dangerous buildings

(1) The Commissioner of Police or any other superior officer of police may either alone or with such other persons as he may think fit, visit and examine any building. (2) The magistrate for the district in which the building is situate may, upon the sworn information of the Commissioner or any other superior officer of police, and in places where there may be no superior officer of police, the non- commissioned officer of police in charge at such place, that any building is in a dangerous state, issue a summons calling upon the owner of such building or his agent, or if such owner or agent cannot be found, then upon the occupier of such building, to show cause why such building should not be pulled down. (3) If at the hearing of such summons the magistrate is satisfied by the evidence of at least two witnesses, of whom in the case of buildings situate in Belize City the Chief Engineer shall be one, that the said building is in a dangerous state, he Dangerous Buildings (Demolition) [CAP. 133 5 may make an order under his hand that unless such building is pulled down, and the materials removed by or on behalf of the owner or occupier thereof within, in the case of buildings situate in Belize City, six days from the making of the order, or, in the case of buildings situate beyond the limits of Belize City, fourteen days from the making of the order, then such building shall be pulled down and the material removed by, in the case of buildings situated in Belize City, the Chief Engineer, or in the case of buildings situate beyond the limits of Belize City, some person, local authority or officer specified in the order. (4) In any order under subsection (3) of this section, the magistrate may direct how the materials of the building so pulled down and removed shall be disposed of, and by whom the expenses of such pulling down and removal shall be paid, and if any such expenses are not paid in accordance with any such order they shall be recoverable on summary conviction by the person, local authority or officer by whom the building is pulled down and removed.