Inspections

11 Special inspections.

(1)

The local authority may at any time carry out a special inspection of a zoo for which a licence granted by them is in force if they consider it appropriate to do so having regard to—

(a)

any periodical report on the zoo made to them pursuant to section 10; or

(b)

any representations made to them on behalf of a properly constituted body concerned with any aspect of the management of zoos or the welfare of animals; or

(c)

any report on the zoo made to them pursuant to an inspection F1in accordance with section 9A or under the provisions of section 12; or

(d)

any other circumstances which in their opinion call for investigation.

(2)

A special inspection under this section shall be conducted by persons who appear to the local authority to be competent for the purpose and who are authorised by the authority to conduct the inspection.

(3)

Where the purpose of the inspection relates to the health of animals, the inspectors shall include (or, if one, the inspector shall be) a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner with experience of animals of kinds kept in the zoo.

(4)

On appointing persons under subsection (2), the authority shall communicate to them and to the operator of the zoo the purpose and scope of the inspection.

(5)

Paragraphs (c) to (e) of subsection (4) and subsections (5) to (7) of section 10 apply to a special inspection as they apply to a periodical inspection except that the references in subsections (4)(d), (4)(e) and (5) to features and records and improvements are references only to features and records and improvements relevant to the purpose and scope of the special inspection.