Part 1: Proceeds of crime Assault and obstruction offences Section 22: Search and seizure warrants: assault and obstruction offences
Section 22 inserts new section 356A into POCA, making it an offence to assault or wilfully obstruct an appropriate person who is acting under the authority of a search and seizure warrant issued under section 352 of POCA. The definition of an appropriate person includes a NCA officer discharging a warrant in connection with two specified investigations, namely a civil recovery investigation or an exploitation proceeds investigation. It also includes an officer of the FCA and a member of staff of the CPS or the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, in relation to civil recovery investigations.