Section 18 Obstruction of officersI1

United Kingdom

(1)

A person commits an offence who—

(a)

intentionally obstructs an enforcement officer F1... who is acting in the exercise of his functions under this Act F2..., or

(b)

without reasonable cause, fails to comply with any requirement made of him by such an officer who is so acting.

(2)

A person who, in giving any information which is required of him by an enforcement officer F3..., makes a statement which is false in a material particular commits an offence.

(3)

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

F4(a)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b)

on summary conviction in F5... Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

F6...

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 18(1)(a) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(2)(a) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)
F2: Words in s. 18(1)(a) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(2)(b) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)
F3: Words in s. 18(2) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(3) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)
F4: S. 18(3)(a) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(4)(a) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)
F5: Words in s. 18(3)(b) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(4)(b) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)
F6: Words in s. 18(3) omitted (7.4.2026) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), s. 159(3), Sch. 10 para. 39(4)(c) (with s. 147, Sch. 11); S.I. 2026/323, reg. 4(1)(55)(a)

Commencement

I1: S. 18 in force at 1.4.2005 by S.I. 2005/447, art. 2(g)