Courts Act 2003

61 Rights of entry and inspection

(1) An inspector exercising functions under section 59 may enter—

(a) any place of work occupied by persons provided under a contract made by the Lord Chancellor by virtue of section 2(4);

(b) any premises occupied by CAFCASS.

(2) An inspector exercising functions under section 59 may inspect and take copies of —

(a) any records kept by persons provided under a contract made by the Lord Chancellor by virtue of section 2(4), or

(b) any records kept by CAFCASS or other documents containing information relating to the performance of CAFCASS functions,

which he considers relevant to the discharge of his functions.

(3) Subsection (1) does not entitle an inspector—

(a) to be present when a court listed in section 59(2) is hearing proceedings in private, or

(b) to attend any private deliberations of persons having jurisdiction to hear or determine any proceedings.

(4) The records referred to in subsection (2) include records kept by means of a computer.

(5) An inspector exercising the power under subsection (2) to inspect records—

(a) is entitled to have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer and associated apparatus or material which is or has been in use in connection with the records in question, and

(b) may require—

(i) the person by whom or on whose behalf the computer is or has been used, or

(ii) any person having charge of, or otherwise concerned with the operation of, the computer, apparatus or material,

to afford him such reasonable assistance as he may require.

(6) The powers conferred by subsections (1), (2) and (5) may be exercised at reasonable times only.