Section 20: Inspection

20. Inspection (1) There shall be designated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry a number of public officers who shall inspect and exercise the powers, and perform the duties, imposed upon them by this section. (2) Any person who has been designated inspector under subsection (1) shall take the oath of office in terms of the Schedule. (3) An inspector or a police officer, not below the rank of Inspector of Police, may, for the purpose of ensuring that this Act and any regulations made under this Act have been complied with— (a) at all times enter and inspect any building, premises, means of transport and any other facility which are used, or which the inspector has reasonable cause to believe to be used, for the purposes of a residential care home; (b) examine any record or document required to be kept under this Act or regulations made under this Act; [Issue 1] R22 – 8 Revised Laws of Mauritius (c) establish contraventions under this Act or regulations made under this Act, or for breach of conditions of a licence; (d) institute proceedings for any breach of this Act, regulations made under this Act or for breach of conditions of a licence. (4) In exercising his functions under this section, the inspector or the police officer— (a) shall have regard to the privacy of residents; (b) treat every resident with humanity and respect. (5) Where an inspector is so required by any person in charge, or concerned in the management of a residential care home, he shall produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise the powers of an inspector under this Act. (6) For the purposes of exercising his duties and functions, an inspector or a police officer may interview any resident or staff of the residential care home, record a statement from him and secure any exhibit.