20.—(1) Where—

(a) a house provided by a housing authority or any part thereof is occupied, whether continuously or otherwise, by a person (other than the tenant or a person who has failed to vacate a house on termination of a tenancy), and

(b) a member of the Garda Síochána has received notification from the housing authority that the authority believe that the person is or has been engaged in anti-social behaviour and that it is necessary in the interest of good estate management that the said person be required to leave the house,

a member of the Garda Síochána may direct the person to leave the house immediately in a peaceable and orderly manner and that person shall comply with the direction.

(2) A person who does not comply with a direction under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.

(3) Where a person does not comply with a direction under subsection (1) a member of the Garda Síochána may arrest the person without warrant.

(4) For the purpose of arresting a person under subsection (3), a member of the Garda Síochána may enter (if need be by use of reasonable force) and search any place (including a dwelling) where the person is or where the member, with reasonable cause, suspects that person to be.

(5) This section shall not prejudice any power of arrest conferred by law apart from this section.