Offences
17(1)It is an offence for a person to contravene any requirement imposed by an inspector under this Part of this Schedule.
(2)It is an offence for a person to prevent or attempt to prevent any other person from—
(a)appearing before an inspector, or
(b)answering any question to which an inspector may require an answer by virtue of paragraph 15.
(3)A person who commits an offence under this paragraph 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 £20,000 (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.
(4)In relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 154(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (general limit on magistrates’ court’s powers to imprison), the reference in sub-paragraph (3)(a)(i), as it has effect in England and Wales, to 12 months is to be read as a reference to 6 months.