Section 21 Offences in connection with power to enter and inspectI1I2I3I4
A person commits an offence if he—
intentionally obstructs a person in the exercise of his powers under section 20(1),
conceals from a person acting under section 20(1) anything which that person is entitled to inspect, or
without reasonable excuse fails to produce any relevant records which a person acting under section 20(1) requires to be produced.
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both;
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding F1the general limit in a magistrates’ court or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.
In the application of this section to Scotland and Northern Ireland, the reference to 12 months in subsection (2)(b) is to be read as a reference to 6 months.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Words in s. 21(2)(b) (and, by implication, the same words in s. 21(3)) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by virtue of The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
Commencement
- I1
S. 21 in force at 1.1.2007 for E. by S.I. 2006/3125, art. 2(1)
- I2
S. 21 in force at 1.3.2007 for S. by S.I. 2006/3125, art. 2(2)
- I3
S. 21 in force at 13.12.2008 for W. by S.I. 2008/3171, art. 2(a)
- I4
S. 21 in force at 1.8.2012 for N.I. by S.R. 2012/307, art. 2(a)