SCHEDULE 8Inspectors
PART 3Other powers exercisable by inspector if authorised by instrument of appointment
Offences
17
(1)
It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement imposed by an inspector under this Part of this Schedule.
(2)
It is an offence for a person to prevent or attempt to prevent any other person from—
(a)
appearing before an inspector, or
(b)
answering any question to which an inspector may require an answer by virtue of paragraph 15.
(3)
A person who commits an offence under this paragraph is liable—
(a)
on summary conviction—
(i)
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months (in England and Wales or Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),
(ii)
to a fine (in England and Wales) or a fine not exceeding £20,000 (in Scotland or Northern Ireland), or
(iii)
to both;
(b)
on conviction on indictment—
(i)
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years,
(ii)
to a fine, or
(iii)
to both.
F1(4)
In the application of this paragraph in England and Wales, the reference in sub-paragraph (3)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to the general limit in a magistrates’ court (or to 6 months in relation to an offence committed before 2 May 2022).
18
(1)
It is an offence for a person intentionally to obstruct an inspector in the exercise or performance of the inspector's functions.
(2)
A person who commits an offence under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction—
(a)
to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks (in England and Wales), 12 months (in Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),
(b)
to—
(i)
in England and Wales, a fine, or
(ii)
in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or
(c)
to both.
(3)
In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for summary offences), the reference in sub-paragraph (2)(a), as it has effect in England and Wales, to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
19
(1)
It is an offence for a person falsely to pretend to be an inspector.
(2)
A person who commits an offence under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction to—
(a)
in England and Wales, a fine, or
(b)
in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.