Consumer Protection Act 1999 · Updated to 1 Nov 2021 · Part XIII · Enforcement
124d. Power to enter premises, and inspect goods and documents, etc.
Feedback & supportAny Assistant Controller may, at all reasonable hours, exercise the following powers:
Assistant Controller
“Controller”, “Deputy Controller” and “Assistant Controller” mean persons appointed as such under section 7;
to enter any premises, other than premises used only for dwelling, and inspect or verify any goods or document;
premises
“premises” means any place, building or vehicle, whether permanent or temporary;
to take samples of goods or records found in the premises for the purpose of ascertaining, by testing or otherwise, whether the offence has been committed;
goods
“goods” means goods which are primarily purchased, used or consumed for personal, domestic or household purposes, and includes— (a) goods attached to, or incorporated in, any real or personal property; (b) animals, including fish; (c) vessels and vehicles; (d) utilities; and (e) trees, plants and crops whether on, under or attached to land or not, but does not include choses in action, including negotiable instruments, shares, debentures and money;
to make copies of or take extracts from any book, document, record or other article found in the premises; and
record
“record” includes account books, bank books, vouchers, receipts, correspondence and any other document regardless of whether the record is on paper or is in electronic, photographic or other form but does not include patient medical record;
to require, but only if and to the extent that it is reasonably necessary in order to secure that the provisions of this
Act and of any order made under this Act are duly observed, any person having authority to do so to break open any container or open any vending machine, and if that person does not comply with the requirement, the Assistant Controller may do so himself.
Power of arrest 124e. (1) Any Assistant Controller may arrest without warrant any person whom he reasonably believes has committed or is attempting to commit an offence under section 14, 16, 20 or 23.
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Any Assistant Controller making an arrest under subsection (1) shall without unnecessary delay make over the person so arrested to the nearest police officer or, in the absence of a police officer, take such person to the nearest police station, and thereafter the person shall be dealt with as is provided for by the law relating to criminal procedure for the time being in force as if he had been arrested by a police officer.