ABSTRACT
Any person who assaults a designated person or an accredited person in the execution of his duty, or anyone assisting such an officer, commits an offence under s 46(1) of the Police Reform Act. This is triable summarily only and punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months and/or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale (currently £5,000). Sub-section (2) creates the offence of resisting or wilfully obstructing any of these three classes of person. This is also triable summarily only and subject to a maximum of one month’s imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (currently £1,000).
