Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847

131 Officers may enter and inspect slaughter-houses, &c. U.K.

The inspector of nuisances, the officer of health, or any other officer appointed by the commissioners for that purpose, may at all reasonable times, with or without assistants, enter into and inspect any building or place whatsoever within the said limits kept or used for the sale of butchers’ meat, or for slaughtering cattle, and examine whether any cattle, or the carcase of any such cattle, is deposited there, and in case such officer shall find any cattle, or the carcase or part of the carcase of any beast, which appears unfit for the food of man, he may seize and carry the same before a justice, and such justice shall forthwith order the same to be further inspected and examined by competent persons; and in case upon such inspection and examination such cattle, carcase, or part of a carcase, be found to be unfit for the food of man, such justice shall order the same to be immediately destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such way as to prevent the same being exposed for sale or used for the food of man; and such justice may adjudge the person to whom such cattle, carcase, or part of a carcase, belongs, or in whose custody the same is found, to pay a penalty not exceeding [F1 [F2 £25]][F1 level 1 on the standard scale] for every such animal, or carcase, or part of a carcase, so found; and the owner or occupier of any building or place kept or used for the sale of butchers’ meat, or for slaughtering cattle, and every other person, who obstructs or hinders such inspector or other officer from entering into and inspecting the same, and examining, seizing, or carrying away any such animal, or carcase, or part of a carcase, so appearing to be unfit for the food of man, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding [F1 [F2 £25]][F1 level 1 on the standard scale] for each offence.

Textual Amendments

F1 “level 1 on the standard scale” substituted (E.W.) for “£25” by virtue of Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), s. 46

F2 Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), s. 31(5)(6)(9)