- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Police Reform Act 2002, Section 46 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 14 November 2024. 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.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
(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)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: