Part VII Prohibition on Inclusion of Obscene and Other Material in Programme Services

Supplementary

C1167 Power to make copies of recordings.

1

If a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath laid by a constable that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that a relevant offence has been committed by any person in respect of a programme included in a programme service, he may make an order authorising any constable to require that person—

a

to produce to the constable a visual or sound recording of any matter included in that programme, if and so far as that person is able to do so; and

b

on the production of such a recording, to afford the constable an opportunity of causing a copy of it to be made.

2

An order made under this section shall describe the programme to which it relates in a manner sufficient to enable that programme to be identified.

3

A person who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement of a constable made by virtue of subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the third level on the standard scale.

4

No order shall be made under this section in respect of any recording in respect of which a warrant could be granted under any of the following provisions, namely—

a

section 3 of the M1Obscene Publications Act 1959;

b

section 24 F1or 29H of the M2Public Order Act 1986; and

c

Article 14 of the M3Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

5

In the application of subsection (1) to England and Wales “relevant offence” means an offence under—

a

section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; or

b

section 22 F2or 29F of the Public Order Act 1986.

6

In the application of subsection (1) to Scotland—

a

relevant offence” means an offence under—

i

section 51 of the M4Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, or

ii

section 22 of the Public Order Act 1986;

b

the reference to a justice of the peace shall include a reference to the sheriff; and

c

for the reference to information on oath there shall be substituted a reference to evidence on oath.

7

In the application of subsection (1) to Northern Ireland—

a

relevant offence” means an offence under Article 12 of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987;

b

for the reference to a justice of the peace there shall be substituted a reference to a resident magistrate; and

c

for the reference to information on oath laid by a constable there shall be substituted a reference to a complaint on oath made by a constable.