Arms Control and Disarmament (Inspections) Act 1991

2 Rights of entry etc. for purposes of challenge inspections under the Protocol. U.K.

(1) Where a request to conduct a challenge inspection within any specified area in the United Kingdom—

(a) has been made under the Protocol, and

(b) has been granted by Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom,

the Secretary of State may issue an authorisation under this section in respect of that inspection.

(2) An authorisation under this section shall contain a description of the specified area and state the names of the members of the inspection team by whom the inspection is to be carried out.

(3) Such an authorisation shall have the effect of authorising the inspection team—

(a) to exercise within the specified area such rights of access, entry and unobstructed inspection as are conferred on them by Section VI of the Protocol, and

(b) to do such other things within that area in connection with the conduct of the inspection as they are entitled to do by virtue of that Section.

(4) Such an authorisation shall in addition have the effect of—

(a) authorising an escort team to accompany the inspection team at all times, and

(b) authorising any constable to give such assistance as the person in command of the escort team may request for the purpose of facilitating the conduct of the inspection in accordance with Section VI of the Protocol;

and the name of the person in command of the escort team shall be stated in the authorisation.

(5) Where the inspection team is divided into sub-teams in accordance with paragraph 2 of Section VI of the Protocol—

(a) subsection (3) shall apply to each of the sub-teams as it applies to the inspection team as a whole, and

(b) subsection (4)(a) shall be construed as authorising members of the escort team to accompany each of the sub-teams.

(6) Any constable giving assistance in accordance with subsection (4)(b) may use such reasonable force as he considers necessary for the purpose mentioned in that provision.

(7) The occupier of any premises—

(a) in relation to which it is proposed to exercise a right of entry in reliance on an authorisation under this section, or

(b) on which an inspection is being carried out in reliance on such an authorisation,

or a person acting on behalf of the occupier of any such premises, shall be entitled to require a copy of the authorisation to be shown to him by a member of the escort team.

(8) The validity of any authorisation purporting to be issued under this section in respect of any challenge inspection shall not be called in question in any court of law at any time before the conclusion of that inspection; and accordingly no proceedings (of whatever nature) shall be brought at any time before the conclusion of any challenge inspection if they would, if successful, have the effect of preventing, delaying or otherwise affecting the carrying out of any such inspection.

(9) If in any proceedings any question arises whether a person at any time was or was not, in relation to any challenge inspection, a member of the inspection team or (as the case may be) a member of the escort team, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the Secretary of State stating any fact relating to that question shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

Commencement Information

I1 S. 2 wholly in force at 17.7.1992 see s. 6(2) and S.I. 1992/1750, art. 2