18Retention of records, &c., by authorised officers

18 Retention of records, &c., by authorised officers

(1)  An authorised officer may retain a record, document or other thing seized under this Act –

(a) for the purpose of investigating if this Act has been, is being, or is likely to be, contravened and, if required, for the purposes of any subsequent prosecution; or

(b) for the purpose of an investigation under Part 5 of the Coroners Act 1995 .

(2)  An authorised officer who retains a record, document or other thing under subsection (1) may provide it, or a copy of it, to a regulator –

(a) for the purpose of investigating if this Act has been, is being, or is likely to be, contravened and, if required, for the purposes of any subsequent prosecution; or

(b) for the purpose of an investigation under Part 5 of the Coroners Act 1995 .

(3)  If an authorised officer provides a record, document or other thing, or a copy of a record, document or other thing, to a regulator under subsection (2) , the regulator may retain it, or a copy of it, while required for the purpose referred to in that subsection.

(4)  A person otherwise entitled to possession of a record or document, retained by an authorised officer under this Act, is entitled to be provided with a copy of that record, or document, certified by the authorised officer to be a true copy, if the person requests such a copy from the authorised officer.

(5)  A certified copy of a record or document provided under subsection (4) is to be received in all courts and elsewhere as if it were the original record or document.