(1)An inspector duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State may (subject to subsections (3) and (4)) require the production of, and inspect and take copies of, any records which a person is required to retain by virtue of section 3(5) or 5(6).
(2)Where—
(a)an inspector has reasonable cause to believe that an offence under section 11(1)(a) or (2) or against regulations under section 8 (as mentioned in section 11(4)) has been or is being committed on any premises, and
(b)he is duly authorised in writing by the Secretary of State to enter and inspect the premises with a view to ascertaining whether the offence has been or is being committed,
he may (subject to subsections (3) to (5)) enter and inspect the premises for that purpose.
(3)An inspector who proposes to require the production of records or enter premises in exercise of a power under this section shall, if so required, produce evidence of his authority before making the requirement or entering.
(4)A power under this section may only be exercised at a reasonable time.
(5)The power to enter premises under subsection (2)
may only be exercised if a licence under section 3(1) is effective in respect of the premises both at the time of the suspected offence and at the time of the entry.
(6)Information (including information in records) obtained by any person in pursuance of this section shall not be disclosed except—
(a)with the written consent of the person by whom the information was provided, or
(b)to any Minster of the Crown, or
(c)in the form of a summary of similar information obtained from a number of persons, where the summary is so framed as not to enable particulars relating to any one person or undertaking to be ascertained from it, or
(d)with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any criminal proceedings, or
(e)for the purposes of a report of any criminal proceedings.
(7)In this section “inspector” means a person appointed under section 9.