Power to obtain information
14.—(1) If the Secretary of State considers that, for the purpose of deciding whether–
(a)to serve, vary or revoke a prohibition notice; or
(b)to serve or revoke a notice to warn,
he requires information which another person is likely to be able to furnish, the Secretary of State may serve on the other person a notice under this regulation.
(2) A notice served on any person under this regulation may require that person–
(a)to furnish to the Secretary of State, within a period specified in the notice, such information as is so specified;
(b)to produce such records as are specified in the notice at a time and place so specified and to permit a person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purpose to take copies of the records at that time and place.
(3) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he–
(a)fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with a notice served on him under this regulation; or
(b)in purporting to comply with a requirement which by virtue of paragraph (2)(a) above is contained in such a notice–
(i)furnishes information which he knows is false in a material particular; or
(ii)recklessly furnishes information which is false in a material particular.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (3) above shall–
(a)in the case of an offence under sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph, be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and
(b)in the case of an offence under sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph be liable–
(i)on conviction on indictment, to a fine;
(ii)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.