Customs and Excise Management Act 1979

27 Officers’ powers of boarding. U.K.

(1) At any time while a ship is within the limits of a port, or an aircraft is at [F1 an aerodrome], or [F2 a vehicle is—

(a) entering, leaving or about to leave the United Kingdom,

(b) within the prescribed area,

(c) within the limits of or entering or leaving a port or any land adjacent to a port and occupied wholly or mainly for the purpose of activities carried on at the port,

(d) at, entering or leaving an aerodrome,

(e) at, entering or leaving an approved wharf, transit shed, customs warehouse or free zone, or

(f) at, entering or leaving any such premises as are mentioned in subsection (1) of section 112 below,

any officer] and any other person duly engaged in the prevention of smuggling may board the ship, aircraft or vehicle and remain therein and rummage and search any part thereof.

[F3 (1A) For the purposes of subsection (1) above “customs warehouse” means a victualling warehouse or a place approved by the Commissioners under [F4 Article 98 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2913/92 or Article 505 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 2454/93].]

(2) The Commissioners may station officers in any ship at any time while it is within the limits of a port, and if the master of any ship neglects or refuses to provide—

(a) reasonable accommodation below decks for any officer stationed therein; or

(b) means of safe access to and egress from the ship in accordance with the requirements of any such officer,

the master shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty of [F5 level 2 on the standard scale].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 27(1) substituted (16.7.1992) by Finance (No. 2) Act (c. 48), s. 10(2).

F2 Words substituted by Finance Act 1987 (c. 16, SIF 40:1), s. 7(1)

F3 S. 27(1A) inserted (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2725, reg. 3(3)

F4 Words in s. 27(1A) substituted (1.1.1994) by S.I. 1993/3014, reg. 2(5).

F5 Words substituted by virtue of (E.W.) Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46 and (S.) Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G and (N.I.) by S.I. 1984/703, (N.I. 3) art. 5

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 27 amended by S.I. 1987/2114, reg. 2 and by S.I. 1990/2167, art. 4, Sch. para. 1

C2 S. 27 restricted (1.1.1993) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), s. 4(1)(3)(c)(6).

C3 S. 27 applied (with modifications) (1.4.2017) by The Raw Tobacco (Approval Scheme) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/1172), regs. 1(3), 22, Sch. 2 para. 2