Retention and public inspection of documents
52(1)A registration officer or (as the case may be) counting officer must retain for a year all documents relating to the referendum and then, unless otherwise directed by an order of a competent court, must have them destroyed.
(2)For the purposes of paragraph (1) a competent court is—
(a)in relation to a registration officer in England and Wales, the High Court, the Crown Court or a magistrates’ court;
(b)in relation to a counting officer in Scotland, the Court of Session;
(c)in relation to the counting officer for Northern Ireland, the High Court.
(3)While documents are retained under paragraph (1) they must be open to public inspection.
This does not apply to—
(a)ballot papers;
(b)the completed corresponding number lists;
(c)certificates as to employment on duty on the day of the poll.
(4)The registration officer or (as the case may be) counting officer must, on request, supply to any person copies of or extracts from any description of the documents open to public inspection that is prescribed by the relevant regulations.
(5)A right to inspect or be supplied with a document or part of a document under this rule is subject to—
(a)any conditions imposed by the relevant regulations, and
(b)the payment of any fee required by the relevant regulations.