(1)At any time while a ship is within the limits of a port, or an aircraft is at [F1an aerodrome], or [F2[F3a vehicle] [F3any other vehicle] is—
(a)entering, leaving or about to leave the United Kingdom,
(b)within the prescribed area,
[F4(ba)within a railway customs 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, [F5transit shed,] [F5temporary storage facility,] 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 [F6ship, aircraft or vehicle] [F6the vehicle] and remain therein and rummage and search any part thereof.
[F7(1A)[F8For the purposes of subsection (1) above “customs warehouse” means a victualling warehouse or a place approved by the Commissioners under [F9Article 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 [F10level 2 on the standard scale].
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 27(1) substituted (16.7.1992) by Finance (No. 2) Act (c. 48), s. 10(2).
F2Words substituted by Finance Act 1987 (c. 16, SIF 40:1), s. 7(1)
F3Words in s. 27(1) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 19(2)(a)
F4S. 27(1)(ba) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 19(2)(b)
F5Words in s. 27(1)(e) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 19(2)(e)
F6Words in s. 27(1) substituted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 19(2)(d)
F7S. 27(1A) inserted (01.01.1992) by S.I. 1991/2725, reg. 3(3)
F8S. 27(1A) omitted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes) by virtue of Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 19(3)
F9Words in s. 27(1A) substituted (1.1.1994) by S.I. 1993/3014, reg. 2(5).
F10Words 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)
C1S. 27 amended by S.I. 1987/2114, reg. 2 and by S.I. 1990/2167, art. 4, Sch. para. 1
C2S. 27 restricted (1.1.1993) by Finance (No. 2) Act 1992 (c. 48), s. 4(1)(3)(c)(6).
C3S. 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
C4S. 27 applied (with modifications) (6.4.2018) by The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (Enforcement) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/264), regs. 1(1), 2, Sch. (with regs. 3-5)