Singapore legislation
Section 103C
Section 103C
Power to enter premises for assessment, repair and maintenance
(1)
The Commissioner may —
enter any relevant premises to assess whether the premises are suitable for installing a prescribed civil defence emergency device; and
enter any premises on which a prescribed civil defence emergency device is installed by the Commissioner to inspect or carry out works to repair or maintain the prescribed civil defence emergency device.
(2)
The Commissioner must not exercise the power under subsection (1)(a) or (b) in respect of any premises unless the Commissioner notifies the owner of the premises of the intention to exercise a power conferred by that subsection not less than 5 working days before the power is exercised.
(3)
Despite subsection (2), where the Commissioner has reason to believe that a civil defence emergency is likely to occur and urgent repairs to a prescribed civil defence emergency device installed on any relevant premises are needed, and —
entry into those premises has been refused or such refusal is apprehended; or
the Commissioner is, after reasonable efforts, unable to obtain the owner’s consent to enter the premises for any other reason,the Commissioner may enter the premises to carry out such urgent repairs to the prescribed civil defence emergency device at any time and without giving the owner of the premises notice of the Commissioner’s intention to do so.
(4)
The Commissioner may, in exercising the power under subsection (1)(a) or (b), take with the Commissioner any other persons that may be necessary.
(5)
The Commissioner may, in exercising the power under subsection (3), do all or any of the following:
take with the Commissioner any other persons that may be necessary;
break open any outer or inner door or window leading to the premises;
forcibly enter the premises and every part of the premises;
remove by force any obstruction to the entry;
remove or demolish any fixtures or fittings in the premises if the removal or demolition is necessary for the carrying out of urgent repairs to a prescribed civil defence emergency device.
(6)
The Commissioner’s powers under subsections (1) to (5) may be exercised by any officer or serviceman authorised by the Commissioner (called in this section an authorised person), and any reference to the Commissioner in those subsections includes a reference to such an authorised person.
(7)
Before entering the premises under subsection (1)(a) or (b), an authorised person must produce, if so required —
the authorised person’s original identity card or such identification card as the Commissioner may direct to be carried by the person as proof of the authorised person’s identity; and
some duly authenticated document showing the authorised person’s authority.