17.—(1) A local authority may, by instrument in writing, appoint such and so many officers of the authority as it thinks fit to be welfare officers for the purposes of this Act.

(2) The chief officer of the Board or secretary of the Club may, by instrument in writing, appoint such and so many persons, as he or she thinks fit to be welfare officers for the purposes of some or all of the functions conferred on a welfare officer by this Act as may be specified in the instrument.

(3) A person appointed under this section may perform the functions of a welfare officer but where, in accordance with the instrument of appointment, the person’s appointment is in relation to certain functions only of a welfare officer he or she shall not perform any function other than those specified in the instrument.

(4) A local authority may terminate the appointment of a welfare officer appointed by the authority under subsection (1) whether or not the appointment was for a fixed period.

(5) The chief officer of the Board or secretary of the Club may terminate the appointment of a welfare officer appointed by him or her under subsection (2) whether or not the appointment was for a fixed period.

(6) An appointment as a welfare officer ceases—

(a) if it is terminated pursuant to subsection (4) or (5),

(b) if it is for a fixed period, on the expiry of that period, or

(c) if the person appointed is an officer of a local authority, or a servant, agent or employee of the Board or the Club upon the person ceasing to be such an officer, servant, agent or employee.

(7) A welfare officer appointed under subsection (1) may exercise any of the functions conferred on a welfare officer under this Act within—

(a) the functional area of the local authority which appointed the welfare officer, or

(b) the functional area of another local authority if an agreement exists for the exercise or performance of those functions by welfare officers of the first-mentioned authority in the functional area of the other authority.

(8) Nothing in subsection (6) prevents a local authority, the chief officer of the Board or the secretary of the Club from reappointing as a welfare officer a person to whom subsection (6) relates.

(9) A person appointed to be a welfare officer under this section shall on his or her appointment be furnished with a warrant of his or her appointment and when exercising a function conferred by this Act shall, if requested by any person thereby affected, produce the warrant to the person for inspection.