Part 1Powers to gather and share information

Power to remove documents for examination

2Offence of obstruction

(1)

A person who wilfully obstructs a constable in the exercise of the power conferred by section 1 commits an offence.

(2)

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction—

(a)

in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both;

(b)

in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both;

(c)

in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.

(3)

In subsection (2)(a) as it applies in relation to an offence committed before section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) comes into force, for “51 weeks” substitute “ six months ”.