1After paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 22 there shall be inserted—
“(c)during such period as may be so prescribed—
(i)to keep those records or (if the regulations so provide) copies of them on the premises; or
(ii)where those records are kept by means of a computer, to secure that the records are accessible from the premises and that the information comprised in those records can readily be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible.”
2(1)Section 43 shall be amended as follows.
(2)For subsection (2) there shall be substituted—
“(2)Any inspector or constable may at any reasonable time enter any premises in respect of which a licence under this Act is for the time being in force, and while on the premises may—
(a)inspect the premises and any machine or other equipment on the premises, and any book or document on the premises, which he reasonably requires to inspect for the purpose of ascertaining whether a contravention of this Act or of any regulations made under it is being or has been committed;
(b)take copies of any such book or document or of any entry in it; and
(c)if any information reasonably required by him for that purpose is contained in a computer and is accessible from the premises, require it to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible.”
(3)After paragraph (c) of subsection (3) there shall be inserted—
“(ca)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement imposed in relation to those premises under subsection (2)(c) of this section; or”.
(4)In subsection (5) the word “and” at the end of paragraph (a) shall be omitted and after that paragraph there shall be inserted—
“(aa)if he has reasonable cause to believe that any information which is contained in a computer and is accessible from the premises may be required for those purposes, require it to be produced in a form in which it can be taken away and in which it is visible and legible; and”.
(5)After subsection (5) there shall be inserted—
“(5A)The holder of a licence under this Act in respect of any premises shall be guilty of an offence if he, or any person acting on his behalf, fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement imposed in relation to those premises under subsection (5)(aa) of this section.”
(6)In subsection (9) after the words “paragraphs (c)” there shall be inserted “, (ca)”.
(7)After subsection (10) there shall be inserted—
“(11)In this section “document” has the same meaning—
(a)in England and Wales, as in Part I of the [1968 c. 64.] Civil Evidence Act 1968 and any reference to a copy of a document shall be construed in accordance with section 10(2) of that Act; and
(b)in Scotland, as in the [1988 c. 32.] Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988 and any reference to a copy of a document shall be construed in accordance with section 6(2) of that Act.”