Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004

15Enforcement and compliance officers

(1)The Secretary of State may appoint officers (“enforcement officers”) to act for the purposes of this Act—

(a)in enforcing the provisions of section 6 (prohibition of unlicensed activities), and

(b)in taking action in circumstances in which it appears that an offence under section 13 (persons entering into arrangements with gangmasters) has been, is being, or may be committed.

(2)The Secretary of State may, instead of or in addition to appointing enforcement officers under subsection (1), make arrangements with a relevant authority for officers of that authority to be enforcement officers.

(3)The following are relevant authorities for this purpose—

(a)the Authority,

(b)any Minister of the Crown or government department,

(c)the National Assembly for Wales,

(d)the Scottish Ministers,

(e)any body performing functions on behalf of the Crown.

(4)The Authority may appoint officers (“compliance officers”) to act for the purposes of this Act in verifying, from time to time or in such circumstances as the Authority may determine, compliance by a licence holder with the conditions of the licence.

(5)When acting for the purposes of this Act, an enforcement officer or a compliance officer shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to act.

(6)If it appears to an enforcement officer or a compliance officer that any person with whom he is dealing while acting for the purposes of this Act does not know that he is an officer so acting, the officer shall identify himself as such to that person.