Commentary on Sections Enforcement Section 14 - Offence of obstruction etc. of officers
48.Subsection (1) provides that a person commits an offence if they intentionally obstruct an authorised officer from exercising their functions under sections 9 to 13.
49.Subsection (2) provides that a person commits an offence if, without reasonable cause, they fail to provide an authorised officer with facilities that are reasonably required under section 13(1) or they fail to comply with a requirement under section 13(1)(b), (d) or (4)(b) such as providing information relating to matters within that person’s control.
50.Subsection (3) sets out that a person found guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. The levels on the standard scale are set out in section 122 of the Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17).
51.Subsection (4) provides that refusal to answer questions or provide documents that the person would be entitled to refuse to answer or produce in a court in Wales or England does not constitute an offence under this section.