380.—(1) Any of the following officers; namely,—

(a) a superintendent; or

(b) the principal Board of Trade officer at a port or district, or his deputy;

may, on the information (made, if the officer so require, on oath) of the owner, skipper, second hand, or agent of a fishing boat, issue a warrant under his hand in the form approved by the Board of Trade for the apprehension of any seaman or apprentice charged with the offence (under this Part of this Act) of desertion, absence without leave, wilful disobedience, continued breach of duty, or unlawful combination.

(2) Such warrant shall be executed by any constable of the county, borough, or place, where the offender may be, and shall continue in force for ninety-six hours from the time endorsed on the warrant by the officer issuing the same.

(3) The seaman or apprentice when apprehended shall be brought by the constable without delay before some officer by whom a warrant may be issued under this section, and that officer shall then and there inquire into the case, and if the explanation of the seaman or apprentice is, in his opinion, sufficient, shall discharge him, but, if not, shall order him to join his boat and resume his duty.

(4) If the seaman or apprentice refuses to obey that order, the officer shall order him to be detained and to be brought with convenient speed before a court of summary jurisdiction, and that court shall hear and determine in due course of law the charge made against him by the information on which he has been apprehended.

(5) An information laid before an officer under this section need not be reduced to writing.

(6) An officer acting under this section may take the evidence (if he thinks fit, on oath) of any person other than the seaman or apprentice charged who is able and willing to give information as to the matters in question, and for that purpose shall have the powers of a Board of Trade inspector under this Act.

(7) A warrant issued under this section shall be valid if it is in the form approved by the Board of Trade and filled in reasonably in accordance with the directions contained in the form, and is duly signed, and shall not be invalidated by the officer who issued it dying or ceasing to hold office.