OffencesN.I.
37.—(1) An employer who fails to comply with any of the relevant requirements shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall apply where an inspector is exercising or has exercised any power conferred by Schedule 3.
(3) It is an offence for a person—
(a)to contravene any requirement imposed by the inspector under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3;
(b)to prevent or attempt to prevent any other person from appearing before the inspector or from answering any question to which the inspector may by virtue of paragraph 2(2)(e) of Schedule 3 require an answer;
(c)to contravene any requirement or prohibition imposed by an improvement notice or a prohibition notice (including any such notice as is modified on appeal);
(d)intentionally to obstruct the inspector in the exercise or performance of the inspector's powers or duties;
(e)to use or disclose any information in contravention of paragraph 8 of Schedule 3;
(f)to knowingly make a false statement or recklessly to make a statement which is false, where the statement is made in purported compliance with a requirement to furnish any information imposed by or under these Regulations.
(4) An employer guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(5) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) shall be liable to the penalty prescribed in relation to that provision by paragraph (6), (7) or (8) as the case may be.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3)(a), (b) or (d), shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(7) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3)(c) shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both.
(8) A person guilty of an offence under any of the sub-paragraphs of paragraph (3) not falling within paragraph (6) or (7), shall be liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment—
(i)if the offence is under paragraph (3)(e), to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or a fine, or both;
(ii)if the offence is not one to which the preceding head applies, to a fine.
(9) The provisions set out in regulations 38 to 42 shall apply in relation to the offences provided for in paragraphs (1) and (3).