{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/consumer-rights-act-2015/schedule-5/paragraph-31",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/consumer-rights-act-2015/schedule-5/paragraph-31.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2015/15",
  "legislation_title": "Consumer Rights Act 2015",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/consumer-rights-act-2015",
  "path": "schedule/5/paragraph/31",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "31",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) The officer may, for the purpose of exercising any of the powers in paragraphs 28 to 30A, require a person with authority to do so to—\n(a) break open any container,\n(b) open any vending machine, or\n(c) access any electronic device in which information may be stored or from which it may be accessed.\n(2) Where a requirement under sub-paragraph (1) has not been complied with, the officer may, for the purpose of exercising any of the powers in paragraphs 28 to 30A—\n(a) break open the container,\n(b) open the vending machine, or\n(c) access the electronic device.\n(3) Sub-paragraph (1) or (2) applies if and to the extent that the exercise of the power in that sub-paragraph is reasonably necessary for the purposes for which that power may be exercised.\n(4) In this paragraph “container” means anything in which goods may be stored.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in Sch. 5 para. 31(1) substituted (26.5.2021) by Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (c. 3), ss. 41(2)(e)(i), 50(3); S.I. 2021/610, reg. 2(c) (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Word in Sch. 5 para. 31(2) substituted (26.5.2021) by Medicines and Medical Devices Act 2021 (c. 3), ss. 41(2)(e)(ii), 50(3); S.I. 2021/610, reg. 2(c) (with reg. 3)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 para. 31 applied (25.8.2020) by Birmingham Commonwealth Games Act 2020 (c. 10), s. 33, Sch. 3 para. 4 (with Sch. 3 para. 8)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 5 para. 31 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes for E. by S.I. 2015/965, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "Sch. 5 para. 31 in force at 27.5.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/1333, art. 2(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I3",
      "text": "Sch. 5 para. 31 in force at 1.10.2015 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2015/1630, art. 3(h) (with art. 8)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2026/18",
      "affecting_title": "Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2024/10",
      "affecting_title": "Automated Vehicles Act 2024"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2024/22",
      "affecting_title": "Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2024/22",
      "affecting_title": "Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024"
    },
    {
      "type": "words inserted",
      "affecting": "ukpga/2024/13",
      "affecting_title": "Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/schedule/5/paragraph/31",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-31T10:30:53.853097+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}