Part 12Miscellaneous and general
Miscellaneous
453BF1Certain offences in relation to SFO officers
1
A person commits an offence if the person assaults an SFO officer who is acting in the exercise of a relevant power.
2
A person commits an offence if the person resists or wilfully obstructs an SFO officer who is acting in the exercise of a relevant power.
3
A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable—
a
on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or to a fine, or to both;
b
on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or 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—
a
on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 51 weeks, or to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, or to both;
b
on summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 month, or 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 any of the following—
a
sections 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 (power to seize cash);
d
section 295(1) (power to detain seized cash);
e
section 303C (powers to search for a listed asset);
f
section 303J (powers to seize property);
g
section 303K (powers to detain seized property);
h
a search and seizure warrant issued under section 352.
6
In relation to an offence committed before the coming into force of section 281(5) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (alteration of penalties for certain summary offences: England and Wales)—
a
the reference in subsection (3)(a) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 6 months;
b
the reference in subsection (4)(a) to 51 weeks is to be read as a reference to 1 month.