Finance Act 2003

Obligations of person given notice of application

34 (1) A person who has been given notice of intention to apply for an order under paragraph 32 must not—

(a) conceal, destroy, alter or dispose of any document to which the application relates, or

(b) disclose to any other person information or any other matter likely to prejudice the investigation of the offence to which the application relates.

This is subject to the following qualifications.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(a) does not prevent anything being done—

(a) with the leave of the appropriate judicial authority,

(b) with the written permission of an officer of the Board,

(c) after the application has been dismissed or abandoned, or

(d) after any order made on the application has been complied with.

(3) Sub-paragraph (1)(b) does not prevent a professional legal adviser from disclosing any information or other matter—

(a) to, or to a representative of, a client of his in connection with the giving by the adviser of legal advice to the client, or

(b) to any person—

(i) in contemplation or, or in connection with, legal proceedings, and

(ii) for the purposes of those proceedings.

This sub-paragraph does not apply in relation to any information or other matter that is disclosed with a view to furthering a criminal purpose.

(4) A person who fails to comply with the obligation in sub-paragraph (1)(a) or (b) may be dealt with as if he had failed to comply with an order under paragraph 32.