Police Reform Act 2002, Section 46 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 March 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
(1)Any person who assaults—
(a)a designated person in the execution of his duty,
(b)an accredited person in the execution of his duty,
[F1(ba)an accredited inspector in the execution of his duty,] or
(c)a person assisting a designated or accredited person [F2or an accredited inspector] in the execution of his duty,
is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.
(2)Any person who resists or wilfully obstructs—
(a)a designated person in the execution of his duty,
(b)an accredited person in the execution of his duty,
[F3(ba)an accredited inspector in the execution of his duty,] or
(c)a person assisting a designated or accredited person [F2or an accredited inspector] in the execution of his duty,
is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both.
(3)Any person who, with intent to deceive—
(a)impersonates a designated person [F4, an accredited person or an accredited inspector] ,
(b)makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he is a designated person [F5, that he is an accredited person or that he is an accredited inspector] , or
(c)makes any statement or does any act calculated falsely to suggest that he has powers as a designated or accredited person [F6or as an accredited inspector] that exceed the powers he actually has,
is guilty of an offence and shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both.
(4)In this section references to the execution by a designated person [F7, accredited person or accredited inspector] of his duty are references to his exercising any power or performing any duty which is his by virtue of his designation or accreditation.
[F8(5)References in this section to a designated person are to—
(a)a designated person within the meaning given by section 47(1), and
(b)a person in relation to whom a designation under section 38B is for the time being in force.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 46(1)(ba) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(2)(a); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F2Words in s. 46(1)(c)(2)(c) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(2)(b); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F3S. 46(2)(ba) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(2)(a); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F4Words in s. 46(3)(a) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(3)(a); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F5Words in s. 46(3)(b) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(3)(b); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F6Words in s. 46(3)(c) inserted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(3)(c); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F7Words in s. 46(4) substituted (1.4.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 52, 53, Sch. 14 para. 44(4); S.I. 2007/709, art. 3(p) (subject to arts. 6, 7)
F8S. 46(5) inserted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 13 para. 5; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 46 applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), ss. 28(1)(e)(2), 120 (with s. 72); S.I. 2004/1572, art. 3(k)
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