{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-northern-ireland-2016/section-272",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-northern-ireland-2016/section-272.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2016/18",
  "legislation_title": "Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-capacity-act-northern-ireland-2016",
  "path": "section/272",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "272",
  "heading": "Obstruction",
  "text": "(1) It is an offence for a person—\n(a) to refuse to allow the visiting or examination of any person by a person who is authorised by virtue of a relevant provision to carry out the visit or examination;\n(b) to refuse to produce any record the production of which is required by virtue of a provision mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (b); or\n(c) otherwise to obstruct a person who is—\n(i) carrying out a visit or examination by virtue of a relevant provision; or\n(ii) exercising any other function by virtue of a provision mentioned in subsection (4)(a) or (b).\n(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), it is an offence for a person to insist on being present when requested to withdraw by a person authorised by virtue of a relevant provision to visit or examine a person.\n(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or both.\n(4) In this section “relevant provision” means—\n(a) section 18(2), 92, 121, 127 or 131;\n(b) section 46, 47, 48, 227, 228 or 229 (read with section 275); or\n(c) section 39 or 126 or any provision of Schedule 1, 2 or 3.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 272(1)-(3) in operation at 2.12.2019 for specified purposes by S.R. 2019/163, art. 2(4), Sch. Pt. 4 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.R. 2019/190, art. 2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I2",
      "text": "S. 272(4)(b)(c) in operation at 2.12.2019 for specified purposes (In s. 272(4)(b)\" until “48” and (c) but omitting “or 126” ) by S.R. 2019/163, art. 2(4), Sch. Pt. 4 (with art. 3) (as amended by S.R. 2019/190, art. 2)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2016/18/section/272",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:19:54.781348+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."
}