{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/energy-act-2013/schedule-8/paragraph-18",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/energy-act-2013/schedule-8/paragraph-18.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2013/32",
  "legislation_title": "Energy Act 2013",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/energy-act-2013",
  "path": "schedule/8/paragraph/18",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "18",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(1) It is an offence for a person intentionally to obstruct an inspector in the exercise or performance of the inspector's functions.\n(2) A person who commits an offence under this paragraph is liable on summary conviction—\n(a) to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks (in England and Wales), 12 months (in Scotland) or 6 months (in Northern Ireland),\n(b) to—\n(i) in England and Wales, a fine, or\n(ii) in Scotland or Northern Ireland, a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or\n(c) to both.\n(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.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sch. 8 modified (1.4.2014) by The Energy Act 2013 (Office for Nuclear Regulation) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/469), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(2)Sch. 1 para. 5(3)(b) (with Sch. 1 paras. 6, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Sch. 8 para. 18(1) modified (1.4.2014) by The Energy Act 2013 (Office for Nuclear Regulation) (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/469), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 5(4)Sch. 1 para. 5(5)(c) (with Sch. 1 paras. 6, 4)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "Sch. 8 para. 18 in force at 1.4.2014 by S.I. 2014/251, art. 4"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/32/schedule/8/paragraph/18",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:08:00.488945+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}