Commentary on Sections Enforcement Section 9 – Power of entry
32.This section enables an authorised officer to enter, at any reasonable time, premises (excluding residential premises) if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence under section 5 has been committed in the area of the local authority, and the officer considers it necessary to enter the premises for the purpose of finding out whether such an offence has been committed. This power to enter premises does not enable the authorised officer to enter by force. If required, an authorised officer must, before entering the premises, show evidence of their authorisation.
33.Subsection (5) clarifies that for the purposes of sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Act, “residential premises” means premises, or any part of premises, used wholly or mainly as a dwelling.