Irish Horseracing Industry Act, 1994

Powers of entry, inspection, etc., of authorised officers and officers of customs and excise.

51.—(1) An authorised officer may at all reasonable times without warrant enter any authorised racecourse or any betting office or any other place or premises where he has reasonable grounds to believe the business of bookmaking is carried on and may—

(a) require any person whom he has reasonable grounds to believe is carrying on the business of bookmaking or employed in connection therewith to produce all books, accounts or other documents or records relating to bookmaking at an authorised racecourse and, in the case of such information in a non-legible form (including such information in a computer), to produce it in a legible form,

(b) search for, inspect and take copies of or extracts from any books, accounts or other documents or records (including, in the case of any such information in non-legible form, a copy of or extract from such information in a permanent legible form) relating to bookmaking at an authorised racecourse, and

(c) remove and retain the said books, accounts or other documents or records for such period as may be reasonable for further examination.

(2) An officer of customs and excise may at all reasonable times without warrant enter any authorised racecourse or any betting office and may—

(a) require any person whom he has reasonable grounds to believe is carrying on the business of bookmaking or employed in connection therewith to produce all books, accounts or other documents or records relating to bookmaking and, in the case of such information in a non-legible form (including such information in a computer), to produce it in a legible form,

(b) search for, inspect and take copies of or extracts from any books, accounts or other documents or records (including, in the case of any such information in non-legible form, a copy of or extract from such information in a permanent legible form) relating to bookmaking, and

(c) remove and retain the said books, accounts or other documents or records for such period as may be reasonable for further examination.

(3) A person shall not refuse or fail to comply with a requirement made to him by an officer under this section and shall provide to such officer all facilities and assistance necessary for the exercise by such officer of any power conferred on him by this section.

(4) A person shall not by himself, or by any person in his employment or acting by his direction or with his consent, refuse or fail to admit any authorised officer or officer of customs and excise in the execution of his duty requiring to enter a racecourse (or any part thereof) or a betting office in pursuance of this section.