Section 9
Power of Controller to enter premises
of Control of Supplies Act 1961
For the purposes of testing the accuracy of any record kept or return made or information given to the Controller under section 8 or of obtaining information or in any case where the Controller or any supplies officer has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed, the Controller, or any supplies officer, after producing to the occupier the written authority, may enter any premises belonging to or in the occupation of, any person keeping or making or who has failed to keep or to make, any such record or return or has failed to give any such information or in which the Controller or the supplies officer has reason to believe that any supplies, with respect to which a requisition under section 8 has been made are kept, stored, manufactured or produced or in which he has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence against this Act is being or has been committed and may carry out such inspections and examination
(including the inspection and examination of books) as he may consider necessary and may seize and detain any books, documents or other things or supplies found in those premises which may furnish evidence of the commission of an offence against this Act.
(1A)
Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Controller or any supplies officer may at any reasonable time—
(a)
enter any premises where he believes any controlled article is stored, used, distributed or sold, examines and takes samples of the controlled article and examine anything that he believes is used or capable of being used for the storage, usage, distribution or sale of the controlled article; and
(b)
examine any book, document or other records found in any premises mentioned in paragraph (a) that he believes contain any information relevant to any controlled article and make copies thereof or take extracts therefrom.
(1B)
Any owner, occupier or person in charge of any premises entered by any supplies officer pursuant to paragraph (1A)(a), or any person found therein, who does not give to the supplies officer all reasonable assistance in his power or to furnish him with all the
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information as he may reasonably require, shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
(2)
Where, as a result of any inspection and examination made under subsection (1) or (1A), there is any discrepancy between the quantity or quality of any supplies found and any record or return required to be kept or made or any information given in respect of those supplies, the person required to keep the record or to make the return or to give the information shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.
(2A)
Any supplies officer entering any premises by virtue of this section may take with him such other persons and such equipment as may appear to him necessary.
(3)
Any person who obstructs or impedes the Controller or any supplies officer in the lawful exercise of any of his powers under this section shall be guilty of an offence against this Act.