Power of entry

(1) A prescribed person may at any reasonable time enter upon any land and into any premises on land upon or in which he suspects, on reasonable grounds, that an act, procedure, matter or thing that forms part of veterinary surgery, is being or has been done or performed, in order to ascertain whether an offence against this Act is being or has been committed or whether any veterinary surgeon is guilty of misconduct in a (2) Before a prescribed person enters a part of any premises which part is used exclusively as a dwelling-house he shall, save where he has the permission of the occupier of that part to his entry, obtain from a magistrate or justice of the peace, a warrant to enter such premises. (3) A magistrate or justice of the peace who is satisfied upon the complaint of a prescribed person that there is reasonable cause to suspect that an act, procedure, matter or thing that forms part of veterinary surgery is being or has been done or performed in any premises, may issue a warrant directed to the complaint to enter the premises at such hours of the day or night as the warrant specifies or, if the warrant so specifies, at any time. (4) A warrant shall be for the period of one month from the date of its issue and shall be sufficient authority for the prescribed person to whom it is directed to enter the premises specified in the warrant at the times specified therein. (5) A prescribed person who enters upon any land or any premises pursuant to this section or to a warrant issued pursuant to this section may, 34 (a) search the land or premises and examine anything found thereon or therein; (b) interview any person found thereon or therein; (c) collect and take away samples and specimens of anything found thereon or therein; (d) photograph the land or premises or any part thereof and anything found thereon or therein; (e) seize and take away records which, in his opinion formed on reasonable grounds, may contain evidence in respect of an offence against this Act or of misconduct in a (6) In this section, premises that are used as a dwelling- house do not include the curtilage of those premises. (7) Any person who assaults, resists, obstructs or hinders, threatens, or intimidates a prescribed person in the exercise of his powers under this section commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to both such fine and imprisonment. (8) In this section, “prescribed person” means a member of the Board or any other person authorised by the Board.