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.
Part 1: Proceeds of crime Assault and obstruction offences Section 22: Search and seizure warrants: assault and obstruction offences