(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person discloses any matter within subsection (2);
(b)the disclosure is likely to prejudice any investigation that might be conducted following the disclosure referred to in that subsection; and
(c)the information on which the disclosure is based came to the person in the course of a business in the regulated sector.
(2)The matters are that the person or another person has made a disclosure under a provision of this Part—
(a)to a constable,
(b)in accordance with a procedure established by that person's employer for the making of disclosures under that provision,
(c)to a nominated officer, or
(d)to a [F2National Crime Agency officer] authorised for the purposes of that provision by the Director General of that Agency,
of information that came to that person in the course of a business in the regulated sector.
(3)A person commits an offence if—
(a)the person discloses that an investigation into allegations that an offence under this Part has been committed is being contemplated or is being carried out;
(b)the disclosure is likely to prejudice that investigation; and
(c)the information on which the disclosure is based came to the person in the course of a business in the regulated sector.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a)on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or to both;
(b)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both.
(5)This section is subject to—
(a)section 21E (disclosures within an undertaking or group etc),
(b)section 21F (other permitted disclosures between institutions etc), and
(c)section 21G (other permitted disclosures etc).]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 21C-21H inserted (26.12.2007) by The Terrorism Act 2000 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/3398), reg. 2, Sch. 1 para. 5
F2Words in s. 21D(2)(d) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 75; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)