(1)A person commits an offence if he assaults an accredited financial investigator who is acting in the exercise of a relevant power.
(2)A person commits an offence if he resists or wilfully obstructs an accredited financial investigator who is acting in the exercise of a relevant power.
(3)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction—
(a)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks; or
(b)to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale;
or to both.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) is liable on summary conviction—
(a)to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks; or
(b)to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale;
or to both.
(5)In this section “relevant power” means a power exercisable under—
(a)[F2section 45 or 194 (powers to seize property to which restraint orders apply);]
[F2sections 47C to 47F or 195C to 195F (powers to seize and search for realisable property);]
(b)section 289 (powers to search for cash);
(c)section 294 (powers to seize cash);
(d)section 295(1) (power to detain seized cash); or
(e)a search and seizure warrant issued under section 352.
(6)In the application of this section to England and Wales in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44) (alteration of penalties for summary offences), and in the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
(a)the reference to 51 weeks in subsection (3)(a) is to be read as a reference to 6 months; and
(b)the reference to 51 weeks in subsection (4)(a) is to be read as a reference to 1 month.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 453A inserted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 81(2), 94(1); S.I. 2008/755, art. 17(1)(g)
F2S. 453A(5)(a) substituted (1.6.2015 for specified purposes, 1.3.2016 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2009 (c. 26), s. 116(1), Sch. 7 para. 94; S.I. 2015/983, arts. 2(2)(e), 3(ee); S.I. 2016/147, art. 3(i)