"The law in question may be civil or criminal.
This purpose is therefore capable of being engaged
by criminal investigations of any sort (including,
for example, employee theft), investigations into
compliance with regulatory requirements which have
legal force, and investigations into compliance
with the requirements of, for example, employment
law or company law. It is not necessary for particular
legal or other action to be in contemplation as
an outcome of the 'ascertaining'.
This subsection cannot apply in circumstances which
fall within section 30. But there is otherwise scope
for substantial overlap between this provision and
those provisions of section 31(1) dealing with law
enforcement and the administration of justice.
There is a general public interest in ensuring that
the law is complied with. The likelihood of ascertaining
whether the law has been complied with, the action
which might be taken as a result, the nature of
the law and of the possible lack of compliance,
are all matters which would have to be taken into
account."
