(1)The registrar may at any time, by notice in writing served on a registered society or on any person who is or has been an officer of such a society, require that society or person to produce to the registrar such books, accounts and other documents relating to the business of the society, and to furnish to [F1it] such other information relating to that business, as the registrar considers necessary for the exercise of any of the powers which [F2the registrar] has by virtue of section 15(1)(c)(ii), 15(4) or 65; and any such notice may contain a requirement that any information to be furnished in accordance with the notice shall be verified by a statutory declaration.
(2)Any society or other person failing to comply with the requirements of a notice under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding[F3 level 3 on the standard scale] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.
(3)The registrar may, if [F4the registrar] considers it just, direct that all or any of the expenses incurred by [F5it] in exercising [F5its] powers under subsection (1) in relation to any society shall, either wholly or to such extent as [F4the registrar] may determine, be defrayed out of the funds of the society or by the officers or former officers thereof or any of them; and any sum which any society or other person is required by such a direction to pay shall be a debt due to the registrar from that society or person.
F1Word in s. 57(1) substituted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 15(a) (with art. 3)
F2Words in s. 57(1) substituted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2(f) (with art. 3)
F4Words in s. 57(3) substituted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 2(f) (with art. 3)
F5Words in s. 57(3) substituted (6.4.2018 immediately after 2016 c. 16 (N.I.), s. 8(2) comes into force) by The Financial Services Act 2012 (Mutual Societies) Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/323), art. 1, Sch. 2 para. 15(b) (with art. 3)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 57 applied (with modifications) (31.7.2006) by Community Benefit Societies (Restriction on Use of Assets) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (S.R. 2006/258), reg. 17, Sch. 2 para. 3