Section 46: Offences against designated and accredited persons etc.
264.This section sets out various offences relating to assaulting, obstructing or impersonating designated or accredited persons. They parallel the provision for offences relating to assaulting, obstructing or impersonating police officers contained in sections 89 and 90 of the 1996 Act.
265.Subsection (1) makes it an offence to assault a designated or accredited person in the execution of his duty or to assault a person assisting a designated or accredited person in the execution of his duty. The penalty is imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5000) or both.
266.Subsection (2) makes it an offence to resist or wilfully obstruct a designated or accredited person in the execution of his duty or to resist or wilfully obstruct a person assisting a designated or accredited person in the execution of his duty. The penalty is imprisonment not exceeding one month or a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1000) or both.
267.Subsection (3) makes it an offence, provided there is intent to deceive, to impersonate or pose as a designated or accredited person. It is also an offence for an accredited or designated person to make any statement or act in a way that falsely suggests that he has powers above and beyond those he in fact has. The penalty is imprisonment not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5000) or both.