18.— (1) A local authority may appoint such and so many—

(a) veterinary practitioners, or

(b) persons connected with animal welfare with whom an arrangement has been entered into under section 15(3) of the Act of 1986,

as F5[the local authority] considers appropriate to be an authorised person or authorised persons for the purposes of this Act.

(2) A body with which a local authority has entered into an arrangement under section 15(3) of the Act of 1986 may, after consultation with that local authority, appoint such and so many of its members of staff, as it considers appropriate, to be an authorised person or authorised persons for the purposes of this Act.

(3) A person appointed to be an authorised person under this section shall on his or her appointment be furnished—

(a) in the case of a person appointed under subsection (1), by the local authority concerned, and

(b) in the case of a person appointed under subsection (2), by the body concerned,

with a warrant of his or her appointment, and when exercising a power conferred by this Act shall, if requested by any person thereby affected, produce such warrant to that person for inspection.