SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 9Disclosure of information

PART 2Offences relating to disclosure and use of protected information

Penalty for offences under paragraphs 3 and 4

I16

1

A person who commits an offence under paragraph 3 or 4 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 the statutory maximum (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.

2

In the application of sub-paragraph (1) to England and Wales in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of F1paragraph 24(2) of Schedule 22 to the Sentencing Act 2020 (general limit on magistrates' court's power to imprison), the reference in sub-paragraph (1)(a)(i) to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.