8C.—(1) If an authorised officer is prevented from entering premises under section 8B, the officer or another authorised officer may apply for the issue of a warrant under subsection (2).

(2) On considering an application under subsection (1), a judge of the District Court may issue a warrant authorising the applicant or another authorised officer to enter the premises, but only if the judge is satisfied on the sworn information of the applicant that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that information required by the applicant or another authorised officer under section 8B is held on any premises.

(3) A warrant issued under subsection (2) authorises the officer named in the warrant, at any time or times within 1 month after the date of issue of the warrant to exercise, by force if necessary, all or any of the powers conferred on authorised officers by section 8B. If, when attempting to enter the premises specified in the warrant, the officer is requested to produce the warrant for inspection, the officer may exercise those powers only after complying with the request.]