Slaughterhouses Act 1974

Enforcement and legal proceedings

41 Execution and enforcement of Part II

It shall be the duty of every local authority to execute and enforce in their district the provisions of this Part of this Act and of any regulations made under it.

42 Powers of entry

(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, at any time when business is, or appears to be, in progress, or is usually carried on, in a slaughterhouse or knacker's yard, any officer of the Minister, or an officer appointed for the purpose by the local authority within whose district the slaughterhouse or knacker's yard is situate, may enter it for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of this Part of this Act or of any regulations made under it.

(2) Any person who obstructs a person in the exercise of his powers under subsection (1) above shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding £20.

(3) Subsection (1) above shall not authorise entry into a slaughterhouse or knacker's yard which for the time being is, or is comprised in, an infected place within the meaning of the [1950 c. 36.] Diseases of Animals Act 1950.

43 Prosecution and punishment of offences

(1) All offences under this Part of this Act and regulations made under it shall be punishable on summary conviction.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under section 36, 37, 39 or 40 above shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

(3) Where a person convicted of any such offence as is mentioned in subsection (2) above (including a person so convicted by virtue of section 35 of the [1952 c. 55.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1952) is the holder of a licence under section 1 above in respect of the premises where the offence was committed, the court may, in addition to any other punishment, cancel the licence.