Finance Act, 1992

Provision of facilities by warehousekeeper and powers of inspection, etc., of officers.

96.—(1) An approved warehousekeeper of an approved warehouse shall, in respect of such warehouse—

(a) provide and maintain such appliances as are, in the opinion of the Commissioners, necessary to enable an officer to take a true and accurate account of any materials or beer;

(b) allow an officer at any time to use anything so provided and to use any other appliances in the possession of such warehousekeeper, and provide all other facilities and all assistance, as are necessary to enable such officer to take such account.

(2) An officer may, at all reasonable times, enter premises in which brewing of beer is being or is reasonably believed by the officer to be carried on or in which beer is reasonably believed by the officer to be held, stored or kept or in which any books, accounts or other documents or records relating or reasonably believed by the officer to relate to the brewing, importation, purchase, holding, storage, packaging, sale or disposal of beer are kept and may there—

(a) search for, inspect, take account of, and, without payment, take samples of any materials or beer,

(b) require any person to produce all books, accounts or other documents or records relating to the brewing, importation, purchase, holding, storage, packaging, sale or disposal of beer and, in the case of such information in a non-legible form (including such information in a computer), to produce it in a legible form, or to reproduce it in a permanent legible form, and

(c) search for, inspect, and take copies of or extracts from any books, accounts or other documents or records (including, in the case of any such information in a non-legible form, a copy of or extract from such information in a permanent legible form) relating or believed by the officer to relate to the brewing, importation, purchase, holding, storage, packaging, sale or disposal of beer,

and such officer may remove and retain the said books, accounts or other documents or records for such period as may be reasonable for their further examination, and such person shall provide to such officer all facilities and assistance necessary for the exercise by such officer of any power conferred on him by this subsection.

(3) Where an officer enters any premises under subsection (2) and any materials or beer are found therein, or any books, accounts or other documents or records specified in that subsection are produced or found therein, he may question any person found therein in relation to such materials or beer or in relation to such books, accounts or other documents or records and any such person shall give to such officer all information required of him by such officer which is in his possession or procurement.

(4) Any person who fails without lawful and sufficient excuse to comply with any requirement under subsection (1) or (2), or who fails or refuses to give any information required of him under subsection (3), or who gives any such information which is false or misleading, or who resists, obstructs or impedes an officer in the exercise of any power conferred on him by this section, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty, under the law relating to customs or the law relating to excise (as the case may be), of £1,000.