Offences and penalties
10.—(1) It is an offence for any person to—
(a)intentionally obstruct any person acting in execution of these Regulations;
(b)without reasonable cause, proof of which lies with that person, fail to give any person acting in execution of these Regulations any assistance or information that that person may reasonably require under these Regulations; or
(c)knowingly or recklessly furnish to any person acting in execution of these Regulations any information that is false or misleading in any material particular.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph 1(a) or (b) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(c) is liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both; or
(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.
(4) Subject to paragraph (5), for an offence under paragraph (1) proceedings must be brought within the period of six months from the date on which evidence sufficient in the opinion of the prosecutor to justify proceedings came to the prosecutor’s knowledge.
(5) No proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) may begin more than two years after the date of the commission of the offence.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a certificate signed by or on behalf of the prosecutor and stating the date on which evidence sufficient, in the opinion of the prosecutor, to justify the proceedings came to their knowledge is conclusive of that fact.