PART 9Maritime enforcement
Power to stop, board, search etcI1I260
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, 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.