Commentary on Sections Schedule 5: Police, customs and immigration powers Part 7: Offences relating to designations
206.Paragraphs 21 to 23 set out various summary offences relating to obstructing, assaulting or impersonating designated officers. They parallel similar offences in relation to police officers, officers of Revenue and Customs and immigration officers in various enactments.
207.Paragraph 21 makes it an offence to resist or wilfully obstruct a designated officer acting in the exercise of an operational power or to resist or wilfully obstruct a person assisting a designated officer in the exercise of such a power. Paragraph 22 makes it an offence to assault a designated officer acting in the exercise of an operational power or to assault a person assisting a designated officer in the exercise of such a power. Paragraph 23 makes it an offence, provided there is intent to deceive, to impersonate or pose as a designated officer. It is also an offence for a designated NCA officer to make any statement or act in a way that falsely suggests that he or she has powers above and beyond those he or she in fact has.
208.Sub-paragraph (2) of each of paragraphs 21 to 23 sets out the maximum penalties for the three offences in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland respectively.