19.—(1) The Commission may conduct an investigation if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting —
(a)
that a supplier has engaged, is engaging or is likely to engage in an unfair practice; or
(b)
that a person —
(i)
has knowingly abetted, aided, permitted or procured; or
(ii)
is knowingly abetting, aiding, permitting or procuring,
a supplier to engage in an unfair practice.
[25/2016; 10/2018]
(2) The chief executive may appoint, by name or office —
(a)
any officer or employee of the Commission; or
(b)
any auxiliary police officer,
to be an investigation officer for the purpose of conducting investigations under this Part.
[25/2016; 10/2018]
(3) Every investigation officer, when exercising any of the investigation officer’s powers under this Act, must —
(a)
declare the investigation officer’s office if the officer is an officer or employee of the Commission; and
(b)
on demand, produce to any person affected by the exercise of that power such identification card as the chief executive may issue for this purpose.
[25/2016; 10/2018]
(4) It is not an offence for any person to refuse to comply with any request, demand or order of an investigation officer if the investigation officer does not comply with subsection (3).
[25/2016]
(5) In this section, “auxiliary police officer” means a person appointed as such under Part 9 of the Police Force Act 2004.