236Enforcement of powers to obtain informationE+W
(1)A person commits an offence if he fails to do anything required of him by a notice under section 235.
(2)In proceedings against a person for an offence under subsection (1) it is a defence that he had a reasonable excuse for failing to comply with the notice.
(3)A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.
(4)A person commits an offence if he intentionally alters, suppresses or destroys any document which he has been required to produce by a notice under section 235.
(5)A person who commits an offence under subsection (4) is liable—
(a)on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum;
(b)on conviction on indictment, to a fine.
(6)In this section “document” includes information recorded otherwise than in legible form, and in relation to information so recorded—
(a)the reference to the production of a document is a reference to the production of a copy of the information in legible form, and
(b)the reference to suppressing a document includes a reference to destroying the means of reproducing the information.
Commencement Information
I1S. 236 wholly in force at 16.6.2006; s. 236 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 270(4)(5); s. 236 in force for E. at 6.4.2006 by S.I. 2006/1060, art. 2(1)(a) (with Sch.); s. 236 in force for W. at 16.6.2006 by S.I. 2006/1535, art. 2(a) (with Sch.)