The Act – Overview Disinfection etc. of premises and things Section 79 Use of powers in emergencies
161.This section provides that where an officer authorised to enter premises under this Part, considers, on reasonable grounds, that there is an emergency, the officer may exercise the power of entry at any time, and may use reasonable force. If the premises are a dwellinghouse, the conditions in section 77 need not be satisfied.
162.The authorised officer may, on entering the premises, take any other person authorised by the officer and a constable, if the officer has reasonable cause to expect any serious obstruction in obtaining access; direct that the premises (or any part of them) are, or any thing in or on them is, to be left undisturbed for as long as the officer considers appropriate; take any step mentioned in section 73(2); and remove any thing from the premises for the purpose of taking any such step at any other place.
163.Subsection (7) provides that an authorised officer who enters any unoccupied premises by virtue of this section must leave the premises as effectively secured against unauthorised entry as the officer found them.
164.Subsection (8) states that the use of powers in emergencies is available even if an appeal has been made under section 83(1). Subsection (9) defines “emergency”.