PART 9Maritime enforcement

Power to stop, board, search etc.60

1

This regulation applies if a maritime enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a relevant ship is carrying prohibited goods or relevant goods.

2

The officer may—

a

stop the ship;

b

board the ship;

c

for the purpose of exercising a power conferred by paragraph (3) or regulation 61 (seizure power), require the ship to be taken to, and remain in, a port or anchorage in the United Kingdom or any other country willing to receive it.

3

Where the officer boards a ship by virtue of this regulation, the officer may—

a

stop any person found on the ship and search that person for—

i

prohibited goods or relevant goods, or

ii

any thing that might be used to cause physical injury or damage to property or to endanger the safety of any ship;

b

search the ship, or any thing found on the ship (including cargo) for prohibited goods or relevant goods.

4

The officer may—

a

require a person found on a ship boarded by virtue of this regulation to provide information or produce documents;

b

inspect and copy such information or documents.

5

The officer may exercise a power conferred by paragraph (3)(a)(i) or (b) only to the extent reasonably required for the purpose of discovering prohibited goods or relevant goods.

6

The officer may exercise the power conferred by paragraph (3)(a)(ii) in relation to a person only where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person might use a thing to cause physical injury or damage to property or to endanger the safety of any ship.

7

The officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this regulation.