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Section 19: Power of entry for section 18 purposes

Animal Welfare Act 2006 · 2006 c. 45View on legislation.gov.uk

An inspector or a constable may enter premises for the purpose of searching for a protected animal and of exercising any power under section 18 in relation to it if he reasonably believes—

that there is a protected animal on the premises, and
that the animal is suffering or, if the circumstances of the animal do not change, it is likely to suffer.

Subsection (1) does not authorise entry to any part of premises which is used as a private dwelling.

An inspector or a constable may (if necessary) use reasonable force in exercising the power conferred by subsection (1), but only if it appears to him that entry is required before a warrant under subsection (4) can be obtained and executed.

Subject to subsection (5), a justice of the peace may, on the application of an inspector or constable, issue a warrant authorising an inspector or a constable to enter premises for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1), if necessary using reasonable force.

The power to issue a warrant under subsection (4) is exercisable only if the justice of the peace is satisfied—

that there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a protected animal on the premises and that the animal is suffering or is likely to suffer if its circumstances do not change, and
that section 52 is satisfied in relation to the premises.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.